Here’s what Central Coast wildfires look like from space

If you didn’t think the wildfires erupting over California were intense enough — you can actually see them from space.

Over the weekend, firefighters battled at least six wildfires on the Central Coast, including the Whittier Fire near Lake Cachuma, the Alamo Fire east of Santa Maria, the Parkfield Fire near San Miguel and the Stone Fire east of Santa Margarita.

Whittier Fire

The third-largest wildfire burning in the state had burned nearly 11,000 acres in the Santa Ynez Mountains between Lake Cachuma and Goleta as of Monday morning. The fire started along Highway 154 on Saturday. Containment was at 5 percent Monday morning.

Fire crews have been hampered by rugged terrain, thinly-stretched resources, and winds from a thunderstorm 20 miles away, according to Cal Fire. More than 700 personnel were fighting the blaze Monday, as well as several helicopters and fixed wing aircraft dropping water and retardant.

Alamo Fire

More than 1,600 fire personnel are battling the nearly 30,000-acre Alamo Fire off Highway 166 near the Twitchell Reservoir. As of 7 p.m. Monday, the fire was just 20 percent contained. It is the state’s largest ongoing wildfire.

Parkfield Fire

Fire crews on Sunday night stopped the spread of the 1,816-acre Parkfield Fire, northeast of San Miguel, which on Monday was more than 80 percent contained. The brush fire erupted about 8 p.m. Saturday between San Miguel and Parkfield.

Stone Fire

Seven structures — including one home — were destroyed by the Stone Fire, which is burning off Huer Huero Road east of Santa Margarita. As of early Monday afternoon, the blaze had burned about 340 acres and was about 40 percent contained.

Here’s what the fires look like from the air and space:

An aerial view of most of the state:

And here are the smoke plumes caused by the Alamo and Whittier Fires.

Another view:

Another:

NOAA created this animation of smoke drifting off the coast from the Alamo Fire:

Last, but not least, the Alamo Fire on Saturday dwarfed other lights on Central Coast and parts of Southern California:

This story was originally published July 10, 2017 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Here’s what Central Coast wildfires look like from space."