An orange and grey tinged skyline hangs over northern California, as fast-moving wildfires continue to plague the Golden state. Another blaze erupted on Saturday, leaving four firefighters with second degree burns.

Thousands have fled their homes as flames threaten to engulf populated areas.

The cause is still being investigated.

One blaze named the Valley Fire broke out in Lake County, 160km north of San Francisco and enveloped tinder dry areas parched from years of drought.

The so-called Butte Fire, 112 kms southeast of Sacramento, has destroyed at least 86 homes and 51 outbuildings.

Flames from a larger Sierra Nevada blaze, dubbed the Rough Fire in central California, speeded north toward McKenzie Ridge, where firefighters continued to strengthen containment lines on Saturday.