The Sites Fire, about 160km northwest of Sacramento, capital city of the western US state of California, broke out on Monday. It is among over a dozen wildfires that have ripped through the state.

The blaze, currently the largest and fastest growing wildfire in Northern California, has engulfed some 6335 hectares in Colusa County. Evacuations are ongoing, according to the California forestry and fire protection department.

In Sonoma County, the Point Fire, which erupted on Sunday in Geyserville and has burned more than 488 hectares, was 50% contained as of Tuesday evening.

In Calaveras County, a blaze that erupted Monday afternoon has been dubbed the Aero Fire, and it has been deemed a threat to more than 3,600 structures. It was 33% contained on Wednesday afternoon, having charred more than 5,351 acres.

Officials warned that the risk of new fires erupting in Northern California remained high.

The probability of ignition is “still up at around 100%”, said fire behaviour analyst Jonathan Pangborn of the California forestry and fire protection department.