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Three wildfires are charring California, fed by high temperatures, wind gusts and dry foliage from the state's worst drought in decades. Thousands of Californians have fled their homes in recent days, with more than 150 structures across the state reduced to ash and hundreds of other homes and buildings still under threat from encroaching flames.

The fires are just three of 11 burning across the state, part of an ongoing crisis in drought-plagued California.

State fire officials have already responded to more than 4,800 wildfires so far this year, USA Today reports, 1,000 more than an average fire season, and peak wildfire season is only just now underway.

"We've seen a lot more fires, and with those fires, more and more people are at threat. Every day we continue to see new fires ignite, forcing hundreds to evacuate," Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant told USA Today.

"Historically, September and October are the months we experience our most damaging wildfires. Fall is the peak for us. Temperatures start to go down … but we start to see winds pick up and conditions are at their driest."

(MORE: How to Stay Safe if a Wildfire Threatens)

For now, firefighters must contend with end of an ongoing heat wave across the state. According to weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam, weather conditions in northern, central and southern California will start to change in the coming days, potentially providing some relief for firefighters battling blazes in those areas.

"Northern California will experience lower temperatures and could see showers Wednesday and Thursday as a low pressure system moves in," Lam said. "By Thursday the same low pressure system could bring thunderstorms to areas of central California along with cooler temperatures. Meanwhile, areas of southern California have a slight chance for thunderstorms today and Wednesday as moisture from Odile pushes north, but could see more thunderstorms through Friday as an upper-level trough moves in."

According to Lam, areas of southern and northwestern California have the best chance for rain. It's important to note that while the prospect of storms might seem like a positive for firefighting efforts, wind gusts and lightning from those same storms could worsen or start new fires.

Here's the latest information on the three fires threatening and destroying homes across the state:

Boles Fire (Siskiyou County, Northern California) Update:

Latest Statistics: 375 Acres Burned, 100 Structures Damaged or Destroyed, 20 Percent Contained

The town of Weed, California, (population 3,000) took the brunt of the destruction from the Boles Fire Monday, with 100 homes damaged or burned to the ground. Some residents estimated that at least a quarter of the town was destroyed by the fire, including a church and the town's sawmill. The fire also knocked out power in the area.

"It's horrible," resident Dan Linville, 80, told the Associated Press. "I've got tears in my heart for all these people that I know who lost their homes."

Between 1,500 and 2,000 people were evacuated from the inferno as it multiplied across the terrain, pushed by wind gusts up to 40 mph.

On Tuesday morning, fire officials reported that they had stopped the spread of the blaze and upped containment to 20 percent. Luckily, there were no deaths or injuries because residents of Weed were able to see the fire on the surrounding hillside and evacuate in time.

Courtney Fire (Madera County, Central California) Update:

Latest Statistics: 320 Acres Burned, 61 Structures Destroyed, 200 Homes Evacuated, 40 Percent Contained

Evacuations remain in place for 600 people in 200 homes in Madera County due to the Courtney Fire. The fire spread from Oakhurst, California, to the popular recreational area Bass Lake. More than 600 firefighters were struggling to cope with the blaze due to steep, rugged terrain and "extreme fire behavior conditions."

The fire already claimed 61 structures, including 33 homes, near Oakhurst, California, an area already reeling from a wildfire that destroyed eight structures earlier this year.

"I really feel for this community, which has already been through a lot," state fire spokesman Dennis Mathisen told the Associated Press. "This is yet another example of how the damaging effect of this drought has impacted California."

King Fire (El Dorado County, Central California) Update:

Latest Statistics: 11,570 Acres Burned, 500 Homes Threatened, 133 Homes Evacuated, 5 Percent Contained

The largest of the three fires, the King Fire, has yet to claim any homes or structures, but remains a threat to hundreds of homes in El Dorado County to the east of Sacramento, California. Mandatory evacuations were in place for several communities including Swansboro and Crystal Basin. 

According to CalFire, the King Fire is spreading rapidly in South Fork American River Canyon and Silver Creek Canyon and moving to the east/northeast and northwest. Containment dropped from 10 percent to 5 percent Monday evening after the fire continued to spread.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.