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THE DAY THE SKY TURNED RED

Apocalyptic images show deadly wildfires raging in California forcing 82,000 to flee their homes

Homes and lives have been destroyed as the fire rips through the county with never-before-seen intensity

AN EXPLOSIVE wildfire has engulfed more than 25,000 acres across California with tens of thousands forced to leave their homes.

The ferocious flames, burning with an intensity firefighters say they have never seen before, have turned the sky red as they consume everything in sight, leaving home owners and locals devastated.

A wildfire burns in the Cajon Pass in San Bernardino county, California
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A wildfire burns in the Cajon Pass in San Bernardino county, California
Thousands of firefighters have been called in to help
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Thousands of firefighters have been called in to help
The wildfire has travelled across acres of land with thousands potentially left homeless
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The wildfire has travelled across acres of land with thousands potentially left homelessCredit: AP:Associated Press
More than 1300 firefighters were called to the frontlines of the fires to try to contain the blaze
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More than 1300 firefighters were called to the frontlines of the fires to try to contain the blazeCredit: AP:Associated Press
Cal Fire's Keith Vitale sprays a hot spot along Lytle Creek Road
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Cal Fire's Keith Vitale sprays a hot spot along Lytle Creek RoadCredit: AP:Associated Press

San Bernardino County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig said the scene was devastating.

He said: "There will be a lot of families that come home to nothing.

"It hit hard. It hit fast. It hit with an intensity that we hadn't seen before."

The cause of the fire has not yet been established but it is believed to have ignited in the dry brush that has been plagued by drought over the past few years.

By Wednesday, barely four per cent of the blaze had been contained with local news reporting the fire was burning across an area the size of San Francisco.

No deaths have been reported but cadaver dogs have been called in.

Just one of the cars left destroyed in the devastating wildfires
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Just one of the cars left destroyed in the devastating wildfiresCredit: Getty Images
The flames have continued to rip through California despite the efforts of emergency services
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The flames have continued to rip through California despite the efforts of emergency servicesCredit: AP:Associated Press
Hotshot firefighters build a fire line after the fire jumped containment lines
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Hotshot firefighters build a fire line after the fire jumped containment linesCredit: Reuters

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More than 1300 firefighters have been trying to fight the so-called Blue Cut fire.

Two firefighters were treated for minor injuries after being temporarily trapped by the flames.

They are part of the huge firefighting effort with authorities calling in 10 air tankers and 15 helicopters to try to contain the devastation of the fire.

But despite their efforts, homes and businesses have already fallen victim to the flames with a McDonald's and the Summit Inn, a famous roadside diner on the famous Route 66 burned.

April Christy told CBS News that while she had lived through a major brushfire years before, the blaze was like nothing else she had ever seen.

A helicopter makes a drop over a wildfire in West Cajon Valley, California
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A helicopter makes a drop over a wildfire in West Cajon Valley, CaliforniaCredit: AP:Associated Press
Trees and a fence burn in the fire with firefighters struggling to contain the fast-moving flames
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Trees and a fence burn in the fire with firefighters struggling to contain the fast-moving flamesCredit: AP:Associated Press
Two firefighters were injured when they got temporarily trapped by the flames
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Two firefighters were injured when they got temporarily trapped by the flamesCredit: AP:Associated Press
The images of the fire have left homeowners devastated as they wait to hear of the fate of their homes
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The images of the fire have left homeowners devastated as they wait to hear of the fate of their homesCredit: AP:Associated Press

She said: "We were literally being chased by the fire.

"You've got flames on the side of you, you've got flames behind you."

An onsite caretaker at the Angels and Paws animal rescue shelter, she said and her mother had raced down the mountain road with the fire exploding all around them.

But authorities are concerned with the worst of the state's wildfire season yet to come with September and October particularly hot and dry with predicted winds also helping any fires to spread.

The flames have been fanned by hot wind, blowing the wildfire further across the already dry areas
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The flames have been fanned by hot wind, blowing the wildfire further across the already dry areasCredit: AP:Associated Press
People dashed away from their homes as part of the evacuation but authorities said many had chosen to stay behind
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People dashed away from their homes as part of the evacuation but authorities said many had chosen to stay behindCredit: AP:Associated Press
Firefighters warned that families would be coming home to nothing despite their best efforts to slow the fire
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Firefighters warned that families would be coming home to nothing despite their best efforts to slow the fireCredit: Reuters
Just 4 per cent of the fire has been contained - with the worst of the state's wildfire season yet to come
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Just 4 per cent of the fire has been contained - with the worst of the state's wildfire season yet to comeCredit: Reuters

The family is just one of thousands left unsure if their home survived.

A US Forest Service spokeswoman said about half of those in the evacuation area had not left.

She said the decision made by locals to stay and fight changed the way firefighters were able to fight the blaze as they had to be concerned about whether there were people nearby.

Recent fires have killed eight people in California.

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