Evacuation orders for thousands of residents continue to operate near San Francisco Bay as wildfires rage across the state of California amid intense heat waves that have lasted for two weeks, Voice of America reported.

A total of over 50,000 California residents have been evacuated due to the fires, authorities said. The fires covered about 780 square miles, the equivalent of half the area of ​​Rhode Island.

As of Thursday, fires have destroyed 175 structures, including residential buildings. Another 50,000 buildings are under threat.

33 civilians and firefighters were injured, two people died.