LOWER LAKE, Calif. (AP) — Triple-digit temperatures (click here) and gusty winds thrust Northern California into full-fledged wildfire season Thursday with several new blazes flaring up, forcing hundreds of people from their homes.

California's 14 large fires, mostly in the scorched northern half of the state, are pushing 7,000 firefighters to their limits as they battle flames amid drought, said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Fire and Forestry Protection.

Dozens of fires started Wednesday, but Berlant said crews quickly corralled all but five of them.

"They only need a little wind to allow them to burn at an explosive rate," Berlant said.

People are to blame for most wildfires, but Berlant said California's drought provides the fuel to get the flames burning rapidly.

The California National Guard said Thursday that it is sending in a fleet of nine helicopters — Blackhawks, Chinooks and Lakotas — to back up Cal Fire crews. They'll douse flames with water, evacuate the injured, and move around firefighters and their equipment....

This is the size of the Rocky Fire. Look at the size of the trees compared to the inferno.

Rocky Fire (click here)

Last Updated:	July 30, 2015 4:15 pm
Date/Time Started:	July 29, 2015 3:29 pm
Administrative Unit:	CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit
County:	Lake County
Location:	near Morgan Valley Road and Rocky Creek Road, east of Lower Lake
Acres Burned - Containment:	8,500 acres - 5% contained
Structures Destroyed:	3 Structures destroyed, Multiple outbuildings destroyed/damaged.
Evacuations:	Mandatory evacuations are in place for Morgan Valley Rd, both sides of the road to Knoxville Rd, Dam Rd, Mustang Court, Boham Rd, Ouarterhorse, Sleepy Hollow, Jerusalem Grade Road, Spruce Grove Rd (north), Noble Ranch Rd and Cantwell Ranch Rd. An evacuation center is opened at the Highland Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Road, Clearlake. An animal evacuation center is opened at the Lower Lake Social Services parking lot, 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway, Lower Lake.
Road Closures :	All mandatory evacuated (listed above) roads and Morgan Valley Road at Hwy 53.