At least nine people have died and more than 6,700 buildings have been destroyed in what has become the most destructive wildfire in California history.

State officials said Friday that the fire, which began Thursday in Northern California and has been dubbed the Camp Fire, has grown to 140 square miles.

The nearly 30,000 residents of Paradise, Calif., the first city hit, were ordered to evacuate on Thursday as the fire spread rapidly.

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Capt. Scott McLean of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection told reporters that the blaze grew so quickly that firefighters almost immediately shifted from prevention to evacuation.

“There was really no firefight involved,” he said. “These firefighters were in the rescue mode all day yesterday.”

The bodies of five people were found in vehicles along Edgewood Lane in Paradise by the Butte County Sheriff's Department.

Their investigation revealed that "the victims were located in vehicles that were overcome by the Camp Fire. Due to burn injuries, identification could not immediately be made."

Press Release pic.twitter.com/fxyPYIjSEh — Butte County Sheriff (@ButteSheriff) November 9, 2018

President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE declared a state of emergency for California earlier Friday, allowing federal assistance to supplement local response as three major wildfires burn across the state.