Large-scale blazes have turned close to 200 thousand acres in California into ashen wasteland. Firefighters are among the eight people killed, and hundreds of homes have been destroyed. Thousands of firefighters in California are battling massive fires. The worst blaze northern California's Carr Fire continued to rage near the city of Redding. It has killed six people since Thursday, while rescuers searched for at least seven missing people. A 70-year-old woman and her two great-grandchildren aged four and five are among the dead. Mark Niu reports from Redding. 

Firefighters worked through the night to control the fire. But shifting winds and dry fuels have created nightmarish conditions.

JOHN CLINGINGSMITH JR FIRE CAPTAIN, CALIFORNIA FIRE "We're dealing with some very erratic and extreme fire behavior right now. With these increased winds that have happened, we've had some very large pushes where it's burnt up a lot of acreage extremely fast."

The speed of the fire proved deadly for Ed Bledsoe's family. He lost his wife, four-year-old great-granddaughter and five-year-old great-grandson, who was on the phone with Ed. He frantically tried to reach them.

ED BLEDSOE JR FIRE VICTIM "My wife was the greatest woman in the world, and my grandkids were excellent. Kids were the smartest kids in their school. Give them top honors on everything. It kills me, all I think about is them talking to me and begging them to come get them out of the fire."

With tens of thousands of hectares still burning out of control, Captain Clingingsmith says the sight of children gives his exhausted firefighters a sense of urgency.

JOHN CLINGINGSMITH JR FIRE CAPTAIN, CALIFORNIA FIRE "Lot of us that have younger kids at home. Kind of gives us that perk that we need to remind us why we're here as well as our familes back home at the same time."

MARK NIU REDDING, CALIFORNIA "And this is what it looks like in one Redding neighborhood that is still off limits to the public. You can see tree damage, but this house is largely intact. But, if I head across the street it's a completely different story. A car and truck burned out. This residence razed to the ground. All that's barely left standing-a garage door."

In this devastated area of Lake Redding Estate, many will come home only to charred timbers and ash. They must rebuild. In other neighborhoods - like Redding's Westwood Village - everything was intact.

JOHN HARRINGTON REDDING RESIDENT "Everything was standing and a felt real thankful, 'cause my brother and his wife and his son both lost their homes."

"Elated and relieved at the same time." Just three days ago, the Dingus family evacuated with less than hour's notice.

CATHLEEN DINGUS REDDING RESIDENT "I'm kind of sentimental now. It was hard. Every day I couldn't sleep just thinking everything's gonna be okay, thanking God every day. Just saying God please, hope our house is gonna be there when we still get out."

Their belongings are still packed. They'll keep them packed for weeks until the family truly knows they are in the clear. Mark Niu, Redding, California.