California wildfires have burned five times the average area this year, officials say

Cal Fire head Joe Tyler urges residents to be extra cautious' and reveals fires have scorched nearly 220,000 acres

California's wildfire season is off to a ferocious start, with the state's top wildfire official saying that fires have already burned through five times the average amount of land for this time of year.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Joe Tyler, the director of the California department of forestry and fire protection (Cal Fire), said the state has responded to more than 3,500 wildfires so far this year. Together, those fires have scorched nearly 220,000 acres - more than five times above what is typical for mid-July, which is considered fairly early in the state's wildfire season.