Striking photos from California wildfires show homes, boats engulfed in flames

Large wildfires ravage parts of California, threatening the homes and lives of many residents in the northern half of the state.

The surge in fires has been especially brutal, even for California – a state historically known as a hotbed. Two fire complexes emerged as the second- and third-largest in state history, while the total number of wildfires stands at more than 650 over the past week.

At least seven people have died and nearly a quarter of a million people were under evacuation orders or warnings by Monday morning.

Lightning strikes sparked all three of the major fire complexes surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Officials surveying maps at command centers are astonished by the sheer size of the LNU Lightning Complex Fire in wine country north of San Francisco and the SCU Lightning Complex southeast of the city, Cal Fire spokesman Brice Bennett said.

“You could overlay half of one of these fires, and it covers the entire city of San Francisco,” Bennett said Sunday.

What we know Monday: Massive wildfires scorch California as threat of lightning igniting more blazes looms

Here's a look at how the fires have scorched parts of California.

Contributing: Martha Mendoza and Frank Baker, The Associated Press

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California wildfire damage: Photos show homes, vineyard, boats on fire