MUST SEE: Stunning Images of California Wildfires Flood Social Media

Amid a global pandemic that threatens to displace millions of Americans, (if Congress can’t pass the necessary stimulus packages to prevent that), the State of California has now declared a state of emergency over a recent glut of wildfires.

The blazes erupted just days ago, and are affecting some of Southern California’s most iconic cities and breathtaking scenery.

A series of fast-moving fires in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere in Northern California — many caused by intense lightning storms — exploded overnight, burning homes and causing thousands to flee.

The newest fires stretched from the wine country to the Santa Cruz Mountains, moving with ferocious speed amid an intense heat wave that also has brought rolling blackouts. Smoke from the fires has caused terrible air quality across the region.

Many of the fires were believed to have been caused by lightning strikes. Northern and Central California began experiencing an unusually active sequence of largely dry lightning strikes Sunday morning, the most widespread and violent in recent memory in the Bay Area on one of the hottest nights in years, according to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UCLA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Twitter users took to the platform to share their images of this fast-moving disaster.

Stunning view on @CIRA_CSU of all the Bay Area wildfire heat signatures on the fire temp overlay. #HennesseyFire and #CZUAugustLightningComplex mountains in San Mateo County showing especially strong. Stay safe, heed local evacuation orders #CAwx #FireWx pic.twitter.com/4X0nKftdfi

— Rob Mayeda (@RobMayeda) August 19, 2020

Hairy conditions as the #LNULightningComplex fire burns along both sides of Berryessa Knoxville Road near Lake Berryessa. @GettyImagesNews @CAL_FIRE pic.twitter.com/EVWKsgsump

— Justin Sullivan (@sullyfoto) August 19, 2020

Driving through Steele Canyon Rd during the #HennesseyFire in Napa County #FireWx @CAL_FIRE pic.twitter.com/KbA4jwRL3P

— Ethan Swope (@EthanSwopePhoto) August 19, 2020

Every fire season, I think it can't get worse. It does though, Every year. The scary part about the #HennesseyFire? This area burns every few years. https://t.co/GnksH5g0Nu @NorthBayNews @NWSBayArea @NWSSacramento pic.twitter.com/tKOtHP6e46

— Kent Porter (@kentphotos) August 19, 2020

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by these devastating blazes.