photo credit: NASA

California officials are reporting more than 10,000 lightning strikes over the course of the last day, many of which have sparked fire — including one that's burned over 11,000 acres. 

These fires have mostly broken out in California’s Central Valley. Cal Fire officials say they’re particularly focused on the TCU September Lightning Complex, which refers to a group of fires caused by lightning strikes.

The complex is mostly affecting rural communities in Calaveras and Stanislaus counties. Officials say the fires triggered multiple evacuation warnings and orders.

Cal Fire's battalion chief of communications Jesse Torres says the state often sees devastating wildfires this time of year.  

"We're coming into the fall months where we haven't seen precipitation for months sometimes almost six to seven months," Torres said.

Torres said forecasts say wildfire threats from these storms should decrease later in the week.