A wildfire in a wilderness area of central California has exploded in size. Dry, hot weather is raising the fire risk for large portions of the state ahead of the July Fourth holiday.

The fire in a wilderness area northeast of Los Angeles exploded in size as dry, hot weather Thursday raised the fire risk for large portions of the state.

A California wildfire continues to rage out of control and has now burned 79,630 acres, according to Cal Fire.

California’s largest wildfire of the year grew to an estimated 70,801 acres Friday, producing smoke that has affected millions of residents across the southern part of the state. The Madre Fire in San Luis Obispo County erupted early Wednesday afternoon near the small town of New Cuyama along Highway 166 on the Carrizo Plain,

A massive wildfire raging in CA for the past three days has ravaged more than 70,000 acres, as hundreds of firefighters fought to bring it under control.