Here’s what it’s like driving through a wildfire

Bob CollinsBob Collins Sep 14, 2015
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A kitchen stove sits among the remains of home, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, destroyed by a fire near Mokelumne Hill, Calif. Two of California's fastest-burning wildfires in decades overtook several Northern California towns, destroying homes and sending residents fleeing. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Residents of northern California had only minutes to try to get away from the wildfire that destroyed over 400 homes in the so called Valley fire over the weekend.

If ever there was a time to put the camera down and try to get away, this was it.

“We are the last house at the very back of the Springs, down in a gulch,” the videographer posted in response to questions about why he waited so long to get out. “There was no smoke or ash coming our way, and there were no sirens or air support nearby, so we honestly didn’t know how close it was. Once we drove up out of our gulch, we realized how close it was. There were no sirens or air support because there was zero firefighting effort in Anderson Springs. (This is NOT a dig at the firefighters, by the way! There was just way too much fire in every direction, and they didn’t have the resources to send to Anderson Springs.) So anyway, that is how we ended up leaving WAY too late. In retrospect, we should have gone out for a drive to find out what was going on, but we were a little preoccupied with packing.”