- [Mark] Authorities saymore than 12,000 firefighters

are battling more than 20major fires in California

and officials warn conditionscould get even worse

because of record breaking heat.

Los Angeles County onSunday hit 121 degrees,

add to that high winds in many areas,

which forecasters say could make

the fight even more difficult.

There's a new state ofemergency in Southern California

after a wildfire exploded to more than

70,000 acres in just days.

In some locations, the smoke was so thick,

it blocked the midday sun.

Ash covered parts of Californialike blankets of snow.

The so-called Creek Firedevoured entire neighborhoods,

making streets unrecognizable.

- The fire completely engulfed everything.

- [Mark] Over the weekend,hundreds of people

tried to escape a popular campsite

in the Sierra National Forestas flames surrounded them.

Some headed into the water

to try to stay away from the fire.

- The fire just moved so fast,

so there was only so much we could do.

- [Mark] The National Guard

air lifting more than 200people out of the danger zone.

Ambulances met them totransport them to safety.

Another fire, theso-called El Dorado Fire,

spread to more than 7,000acres in just hours.

Officials report that blaze started

by fireworks from a gender reveal party.

Mark Martin, CBN.