Over 8,000 firefighters battling over a dozen blazes in California

At least seventy large wildfires are burning across thirteen states this morning in the western United States.

These fires have already consumed 1.3 million acres and have burned more than sixty homes, with dozens more in the danger zone.

California is currently fighting thirteen wildfires and officials have called in the Marines to help the state's 8,000 firefighters beat back the flames.

Chief Ken Pimlott is the director of California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and he joins Soledad on Starting Point this morning to explain the state's strategy in containing the fires.