Shocking Photos Show The Hellish Scenes From The West Coast Wildfires

As large swaths of the West Coast burn in unprecedented wildfires, the skies have turned red.

By
Clarissa-Jan Lim
by Clarissa-Jan Lim

BuzzFeed News Reporter

and
Kate Bubacz
by Kate Bubacz

BuzzFeed News Photo Director

Huge swaths of the West Coast have been blanketed by choking smoke and an eerie orange cast as an unprecedented wildfire season that started early ferociously consumes millions of acres across several states.

California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Arizona are currently under "critical" and "elevated" risk of fire weather, according to the National Weather Service.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes and entire landscapes have been destroyed. Smoke and flames from fires across the region have swallowed the blue sky, with the air quality in some areas reaching hazardous levels.

Here's what the West Coast looks like amid this year's wildfire season.

Josh Edelson / Getty Images

A boat motors by as the Bidwell Bar Bridge over Lake Oroville is surrounded by the Bear fire in Oroville, California, Sept. 9, 2020.

Josh Edelson / Getty Images

Butte County firefighters watch as flames tower over their truck during the Bear fire in Oroville, California, Sept. 9, 2020.

Eric Risberg / AP

Under darkened skies from wildfire smoke, a man crosses Hyde Street with Alcatraz Island and Fisherman's Wharf in the background, Sept. 9, 2020, in San Francisco.

Chris Pietsch / the Register-Guard via Reuters

Residents evacuate Marcola, Oregon, as a wildfire burns to the south along the McKenzie River, Sept. 8, 2020.

Andrew Selsky / AP

A family arrives with their two dogs and other belongings at an evacuation center set up at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem, Sept. 8, 2020.

Eric Risberg / AP

The skyline in the distance behind Crissy Field is barely visible with smoke from wildfires Sept. 9, 2020, in San Francisco.

Brian Hayes / Reuters

High winds and multiple wildfires cause poor air quality and low visibility in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 8, 2020.

Eric Risberg / AP

Under darkened skies from wildfire smoke, a waiter carries a tray of coffee to people having lunch at the Buena Vista Cafe, Sept. 9, 2020, in San Francisco.

Brian Hayes / Reuters

A person walks in Bush's Pasture Park as high winds and multiple wildfires cause poor air quality and low visibility in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 8, 2020.

Brian Hayes / Reuters

Inmates are moved from Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 8, 2020.

Brian Hayes / Reuters

Brock Bowers attempts to fly a drone in high winds in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 8, 2020.

Brittany Hosea-small / Getty Images

Cars drive along Ygnacio Valley Road below an orange sky filled with wildfire smoke in Concord, California on September 9, 2020.

Andrew Selsky / AP

Under a smoke-filled sky, volunteer Shawn Daley directs traffic to the parking lot of an evacuation center at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, which was crowded with hundreds of cars, pickup trucks, and campers of evacuees, in Salem, Sept. 8, 2020.

Mark Ylen / Albany Democrat-Herald via AP

Jennifer Steckler walks two horses along state Highway 226 in Lyons, Oregon, Sept. 8, 2020. Steckler had walked them for more than 2 miles during an evacuation from the Santiam fire.

Brian Hayes / Reuters

People walk under a red sky in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 8, 2020.

Carlos Barria / Reuters

People walk by the Pacific Ocean coast as smoke from wildfires covers an area near Seal Rock, Oregon, Sept. 8, 2020.

Eric Risberg / AP

Patrick Kenefick, left, and Dana Williams, both of Mill Valley, Calif., record the darkened Golden Gate Bridge covered with smoke from wildfires, Sept. 9, 2020, from a pier at Fort Baker near Sausalito, Calif. The photo was taken at 9:47 a.m. in the morning.

Tyler Tjomsland / the Spokesman-Review via AP

The Cold Springs Canyon and Pearl Hill fires encroach on Wells Dam near Azwell, Washington, Sept. 7, 2020.

Josh Edelson / Getty Images

Butte County firefighters watch as flames tower over their truck at the Bear fire in Oroville, California, Sept. 9, 2020.

Brian Hayes / Reuters

Smoke and ash fill the air near Aumsville, Oregon, Sept. 8, 2020.

Tyler Tjomsland / the Spokesman-Review via AP

A local man runs a tractor to carve out an impromptu fire line as the Pearl Hill fire moves closer, near Mansfield, Washington, Sept. 8, 2020.

Jesse Tinsley / the Spokesman-Review via AP

In downtown Malden, Washington, the former post office (lower left) and another historic building (lower right) smolder the day after a fast-moving wildfire swept through the tiny town, Sept. 8, 2020.

Jesse Tinsley / the Spokesman-Review via AP

Shawn Thornton hugs his wife, Shannon Thornton, next to the rubble of their burned home in Malden, Washington, Sept. 8, 2020, the day after a fast-moving wildfire swept through the tiny town. Shawn and Shannon weren't home at the time, but their son Cody was and managed to get their dog and a few belongings before leaving just minutes before the flames swept through.

Jesse Tinsley / the Spokesman-Review via AP

A sign reading "Malden Town Hall" lies in the ashes of the former library and city hall building in Malden, Washington, Sept. 8, 2020.