Two fires burning 50 kilometres apart in Mendocino County, located north of San Francisco, prompted mandatory evacuations on July 29.

Over 800 firefighters were at the scene, according to local media, and four residences have been destroyed in the fires so far. More than 4,500 buildings were under threat.

This video, shared to Facebook by Eric Pham, shows a time lapse of a smoke cloud above Lake Mendocino.

The blaze jumped a major highway in the evening, forcing road closures as drivers were forced to seek alternative routes.
More than 500 homes were evacuated.

Smoke from Mendocino Complex fire seen from Lake Mendocino. Parts of Lake County and Mendocino County are in the mandatory evacuation. California declared the state of Emergency.