California wildfire burns through area bigger than Los Angeles, say officials
A wildfire in the US has scorched an area larger than the city of Los Angeles bringing widespread devastation.
Officials added the so-called Park Fire is the largest such blaze in California this year and is one of more than 100 wildfires burning in the country.
Some have been sparked by the hot weather, with climate change increasing the frequency of lightning strikes as the western US endures blistering heat and bone-dry conditions.
Millions of people have been placed under air quality alerts in the northwestern US and western Canada.
The National Interagency Fire Centre said the Park Fire, which has been burning north of the state capital city of Sacramento, had spread across more than 562sq miles (1,455sq km) of inland northern California.
Evacuation orders and warnings are still in place for multiple communities in several counties, while many structures have been destroyed. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
The skies have been darkened with smoke, while at least 4,000 firefighters are engaged in fighting the Park Fire. More reinforcements have been called in.
Dry conditions and strong winds were increasing the fire danger, the National Weather Service said.
Cooler temperatures ahead
Warnings were also issued for wide swathes of Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, alongside other parts of California.
Cooler temperatures are expected during the middle of this week, but that does not mean existing fires will disappear, meteorologists have warned.
The Park Fire started on Wednesday, when authorities say someone pushed a burning car into a gully in Chico and then fled.
A man accused of setting the fire was arrested on Thursday and due in court on Monday.