A helicopter drops water on a burning hillside during the Mendocino Complex fire near Finley, California on July 30, 2018.
Thousands of firefighters in California made some progress against several large-scale blazes that have turned close to 200,000 acres into an ashen wasteland, destroyed expensive homes, and killed eight fire personnel and civilians in the most populous US state. The worst blaze, northern California's Carr Fire, has killed six people since Thursday, including a 70-year-old woman and her two great-grandchildren aged four and five. They perished when flames swallowed their home in Redding.
AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
A helicopter drops water while helping to fight the Mendocino Complex fire in Lakeport, California. AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
An air tanker flies over a vineyard during the Mendocino Complex fire in Lakeport, California. AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
Smoke billows up as the Mendocino Complex fire expands near Finley, California. AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
A house burns at the Mendocino Complex fire near Finley, California. AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
An air tanker drops retardant on a hillside ahead of the Mendocino Complex fire near Finley, California. AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
A house burns during the Mendocino Complex fire near Finley, California. AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
Firefighters try to contain flames from the Carr fire as it spreads towards the town of Douglas City near Redding, California. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON
A burnt out boat sits at a marina on Whiskeytown Lake after damage from the Carr fire near Redding, California. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON
Firefighters try to contain flames from the Carr fire as it spreads towards the town of Douglas City near Redding, California. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON
Firefighters deal with heavy smoke as they try to contain flames from the Carr fire as it spreads towards the town of Douglas City near Redding, California. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON
A burnt out boat sits at a marina on Whiskeytown Lake after damage from the Carr fire near Redding, California. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON
A burnt out boat sits at a marina on Whiskeytown Lake after damage from the Carr fire near Redding, California. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON
A firefighter keeps watch at a containment line as they battle flames from the Carr fire as it spreads towards the town of Douglas City near Redding, California. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON
A firefighter saves a vehicle from encroaching flames as the Carr fire spreads towards the town of Douglas City near Redding, California. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON
A firefighter watches as a building burns during the Mendocino Complex fire in Lakeport, California. AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
A truck burns at a residence as the Mendocino Complex fire pushes forward in Lakeport, California. AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
A firefighter watches as a building burns during the Mendocino Complex fire in Lakeport, California. AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
A helicopter carries water as the sun sets in the background while fighting the Mendocino Complex fire in Lakeport, California. AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
A firefighter watches as a building burns during the Mendocino Complex fire in Lakeport, California. AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
A firefighter walks through smoke as flames approach a home during the Mendocino Complex fire in Lakeport, California. AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSON
Firefighters try to contain flames from the Carr fire as it spreads towards the town of Douglas City near Redding, California. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON
Firefighter Shawn Lee from the Lake Forest unit, tries to contain flames from the Carr fire as it spreads towards the town of Douglas City near Redding, California. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON
Firefighter Shawn Lee (R) from the Lake Forest unit tries to contain flames from the Carr fire as it spreads towards the town of Douglas City near Redding, California. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON
Firefighter Shawn Lee (R) from the Lake Forest unit and his colleagues try to contain flames from the Carr fire as it spreads towards the town of Douglas City near Redding, California. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON