California Wildfires: King Fire Balloons in Size, More Than 2,000 Homes Threatened

Three wildfires are charring California, fed by high temperatures, wind gusts and dry foliage from the state's worst drought in decades. The King fire, the largest of the three, exploded in size overnight Thursday, putting more than 2,000 homes in the path of the flames.

The latest round of evacuations comes as thousands of Californians have fled their homes in recent days, with about 200 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 at least seven major fires 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)

According to weather.com meteorologist Chrissy Warrilow, weather conditions in northern, central and southern California will become unfavorable over the weekend, as warmer temperatures and drier weather returns to the state through Sunday.

"Unfortunately, much of California is shunted from the Pacific Ocean's moisture, and little to no chance of rain will be in the forecast for much of California until the middle of next week," Warrilow said.

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

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

Latest Statistics: 71,000 Acres Burned, 2,007 Homes Threatened, 5 Percent Contained

The largest of the three fires, the King fire, exploded in size in recent hours, going from some 28,000 acres burned to more than 70,000 in less than one day.

The inferno has yet to claim any homes or structures, but is a major threat to hundreds of homes in El Dorado County to the east of Sacramento, California.

More than 2,500 firefighters were trying to stop the explosive growth of the fire well into the evening hours Tuesday, USA Today reports. The fire threatened to jump across Highway 50, and if it were to do so, would put more than 1,600 homes on the other side of the highway in the path of the flames.

As a result, mandatory evacuations were in place for several communities including Swansboro and Crystal Basin, and homes along more than 24 roads in the area.

According to Cal Fire, 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 and the fire has only grown since then.

News 10 reports that Wayne Allen Huntsman, 37, has been charged with deliberately starting the fire.

Boles Fire (Siskiyou County, Northern California) Update:

Latest Statistics: 375 Acres Burned, 150 Structures Damaged or Destroyed, 65 Percent Contained

In the town of Weed, where a blaze began Monday and raged across the community, teams of firefighters went house-to-house Wednesday to pin down damage by a wildfire that officials estimated had destroyed 110 homes and damaged another 90.

The new figures were a marked increase from the initial estimate that a total of 150 structures had been destroyed or damaged in the blaze that rapidly swept across the town. Four firefighters lost their homes.

Two churches, a community center and the library also burned to the ground, while an elementary school and the city's last wood-products mill were damaged by flames that had been pushed by 40-mph winds.

Insurance companies worked to find places to live for the people who lost their homes.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation. Cal Fire officials are offering a $10,000 reward for any information about the origins of the fire, according to NBC Bay Area.

Burned neighborhoods remained off-limits, but people have been finding ways in.

The Rev. Bill Hofer, pastor of Weed Berean Church, said power was back on in his home, which was still standing on the edge of the devastation zone, and he was planning to return Wednesday night — despite the evacuation order — to deter vandalism.

"The more people home with the lights on, the better," he said.

Courtney Fire (Madera County, Central California) Update:

Latest Statistics: 320 Acres Burned, 49 Structures Destroyed, 70 Percent Contained

All evacuation orders have been lifted for some 200 homes in Madera County community of Bass Lake Heights that were previously evacuated due to the Courtney fire, ABC 30 reports.

The fire spread from Oakhurst, California, to the popular recreational area Bass Lake. More than 500 firefighters were struggling to cope with the blaze due to steep, rugged terrain and "extreme fire behavior conditions," but upped containment significantly Tuesday into Wednesday.

The fire has 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."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.