A fast-moving California wildfire exploded to become the state’s biggest of the year, forcing evacuations and the closure of a highway, and evoking memories of the devastating blazes that laid waste to parts of the state in January.

A wildfire in a wilderness area of central California exploded in size as dry, hot weather on Thursday raised the fire risk for large portions of the state ahead of the United States’ July 4th holiday.

Smoke damage can be nearly as dangerous to both human and property values. According to The New York Times, “California is bracing for an especially brutal summer of wildfires as it still recovers from the devastating blazes in Los Angeles in January.