US President Donald Trump is set to visit California for a briefing on the devastating wildfires, which have killed 35 people, on Monday, as accusations of him being in denial about climate change rage.

The record blazes have now seared through nearly five million acres (two million hectares) across the US West, torching an area roughly the size of the state of New Jersey, according to AFP. Most of the fatalities have occurred in California and Oregon.

Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate who earlier tweeted that Trump “denied evidence” the flames were “intensified by the climate crisis,” is also set to tour the damage, as the infernos ignite a political conflagration.

“This is climate change, and this is an administration that’s put its head in the sand,” Eric Garcetti, the Democratic mayor of Los Angeles, told CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday.

Of at least 35 people killed by the blazes since the beginning of summer, 27 died this week alone. Dozens were still missing on Sunday. Fears of the death toll rising remain.

Trump has made very little comment about the blazes in recent weeks, however, at a Nevada campaign event on Saturday he spoke in brief about the extent of the disaster.

“They never had anything like this,” said Trump. “Please remember the words, very simple, forest management,” yet again deemphasizing the global warming situation

He plans to meet Monday with the heads of California’s emergency services, while California senator Harris will tour the damage a day later.

Garcetti hit back at the president’s earlier remarks, saying that “anybody that lives in California is insulted by that.”

“Talk to a firefighter if you think that climate change isn’t real… This isn’t about forest management or raking.”

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With the battle for political supremacy on in the US ahead of November’s election, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden will also address the wildfires and their cause on Monday.

He recently tweeted about the threat of climate change saying “we’re witnessing its devastating effects every single day.”

Much of the West Coast remained coated in dense smog through Sunday, with Portland by a distance the world’s most air-polluted city according to IQAir.

“It’s apocalyptic,” Washington state Governor Jay Inslee told ABC’s “This Week”.

“It’s maddening right now we have this cosmic challenge to our communities, the entire West Coast of the United States on fire, to have a president to deny that these are not just wildfires, these are climate fires,” he said.

There are more than 30,000 firefighters battling the blazes.

However, with officials warning that gusting wind and scorching sun could return to the dry region as early as Monday, the situation doesn’t seem to get any better.

Two new deaths were confirmed from the North Complex Fire, which swept at unprecedented speeds this week blazing areas already ravaged less than two years ago by the Camp Fire — California’s deadliest ever blaze.

“There are still active fires, power lines are down, trees are down, there are roads that are impassable,” said Sheriff Kory Honea, warning evacuees it could take “weeks and weeks” to return to their homes.

Paul Clement described to AFP how he fled his home in Berry Creek.

“When I came around the bend, everything was on fire — an entire hillside. So I ended up driving through and you couldn’t see fifty feet (15 meters).”

“It was worse than the Camp Fire, which I didn’t think was possible.”,California has seen 3.3 million acres burn — an annual record, with more than three months of the fire season still to come — and over 4,100 structures destroyed.

Near the Beachie Creek Fire, east of Oregon state capital Salem, police had set up multiple roadblocks on Sunday. Long lines of cars stretched in front of them, waiting in the thick fog to pass through.

Many were farmers trying to go home and feed their livestock.

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“We went back to Mill City this morning, but police advised us not to as it is dangerous,” resident Elaina Early told AFP. “The house is ok, but we leave now because the conditions are really not good.”

“My son is six and he is in shock, it’s hard for him,” the 36-year-old added. “He keeps telling me, ‘We live in a hotel now?'”

Online claims floating that “extremists” are intentionally setting fires in Oregon were debunked by the FBI. Later, Facebook said it was removing the concerned posts.