This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of the SCU Lightning Complex wildfires, Saturday, August 22. Firefighters made slow but hopeful progress in battling the blazes on Saturday, aided by good weather but hampered by smoky skies that grounded water-dropping aircraft for some of the day. But the changing weather brought fears of new fires overnight and warnings from state and local officials for residents in threatened areas to prepare to flee at any moment. Since Aug. 15, state fire officials said more than 12,000 lightning strikes across the state have ignited more than 500 wildfires. Overall, the fires have killed five people, torched nearly 700 homes and other structures and forced tens of thousands from their houses.

Source: The Standard August 23, 2020 13:41 UTC