Two killed by wildfires raging across California

Two people have died as a result of wildfires tearing through California due to soaring temperatures affecting the state.

Several blazes have ignited across Northern California, Los Angeles and San Diego which firefighters are struggling to control.

Homes have been destroyed and around 1,000 people were told to evacuate their homes, as the state governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency last week.

Some areas have seen temperatures push past 100F (38°C), with Burbank recording a new temperature record when temperatures reached 112F (44°C) last Wednesday.

Heavy winds, dry vegetation and the sweltering heat have made conditions difficult for firefighters to work in, leaving seven suffering from heat injuries.

According to reports, firefighters have achieved 25% containment of a fire near the Oregon border, while crews had contained 5% of a mountain fire in San Diego.

The climate crisis has led to an increase in dangerous wildfires, according to a study by British universities, affecting regions across the globe.

This has a profound impact on air quality, with research showing that wildfires in the US Pacific Northwest last year led to an increase in levels of carbon monoxide.

Additionally, The University of Utah have shown that wildfires in the west of the US are producing taller plumes of smoke, spreading pollutants over greater distances.

Photo by Mike Newbry