Dramatic scenes from California's wildfires

For the past few weeks, California has been under siege by several wildfires as firefighters work to regain control. For a state that is still struggling from the destructive and costly effects of the 2017 wildfire season, this summer is not looking any better.

Firefighters across the state continue to battle 17 wildfires, with the largest located in Mendocino County. This week, the Mendocino Complex Fire in Southern California became the largest wildfire in California's recorded history, consuming over 300,000 acres and surpassing last year's Thomas Fire, which burned just over 280,000 acres.

The Carr Fire, near Redding, also continues to burn. It has already claimed the lives of 8 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced thousands of residents.

Following are some of the dramatic and catastrophic scenes firefighters and residents are facing.

(Pictured above): A plane drops fire retardant behind homes along McVicker Canyon Park Road in Lake Elsinore, California, as the so-called Holy Fire burns in a residential area on Aug. 8, 2018.

Forest burns in the Carr Fire on July 30, 2018, west of Redding, California.

Cal Fire firefighters monitor a back burn as they battle the Medocino Complex Fire on Aug. 7, 2018, near Lodoga, California.

Firefighters try to control a back burn as the Carr fire continues to spread toward the towns of Douglas City and Lewiston near Redding, California, on July 31, 2018.

Properties burned during the Ranch fire in Spring Valley, California, on Aug. 07, 2018.

A large pyrocumulus cloud (or cloud of fire) explodes outward during the Carr fire near Redding, California, on July 27, 2018.

Smoke covers much of California as seen from space.

Trees burned by the Mendocino Complex fire stand in a field on Aug. 8, 2018, near Lodoga, California.

Gretchen Fritsch and Jay Michael rest in their car in the parking lot of the Moose Lodge in Clearlake Oaks, California, on Aug. 07, 2018, during the Ranch Fire. This is the eighth time they have been evacuated while living in the area and the third time this year.

A black band is placed over the logo on a Redding fire department truck in honor of a Redding firefighter who lost his life battling the Carr fire on July 27, 2018, near Whiskeytown, California.

A firefighter tries to control a back burn as the Carr Fire continues to spread towards the towns of Douglas City and Lewiston near Redding, California on July 31, 2018.

Jim Daniel sleeps on a cot with his dog in the shade after being evacuated from the Ranch Fire and Mendocino Complex Fire to a makeshift evacuation center in the parking lot of the Moose Lodge in Clearlake Oaks, California, Aug. 2, 2018.

A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop as the Holy Fire burns near homes on August 9, 2018 in Lake Elsinore, California. The fire continues to grow amidst a heat wave and has now burned 10,236 acres while remaining just five percent contained. 

Firefighters monitor a back burn as they battle the Medocino Complex fire on Aug. 7, 2018, near Lodoga, California.

A 747 Global Super Tanker 944 makes a retardant drop along a ridge during the so-called Holy Fire burning in the Cleveland National Forest near Corona, California, on Aug. 7, 2018.

Fire retardant dropped by firefighters battling the Carr Fire covers a home on July 30, 2018, near Redding, California.

Onlookers are silhouetted against the reflection of a wildfire burning in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore, California, Aug. 8, 2018.

A CalFire firefighter douses flames on a burning home during the Carr Fire in Redding, California, on July 27, 2018.

An inmate firefighter pauses during a firing operation as the Carr Fire burns in Redding, California, on July 27, 2018.