>>>
>>> BREAKING NEWS. JUST COMING INTO THE NEWSROOM TONIGHT, A MAJOR FIRE SHUT DOWN
I-80 NEAR FAIRFIELD.
WE WANT TO SHOW YOU VIDEO THAT
HAS COME INTO THE NEWSROOM.
THE SMOKE, WE ARE TOLD THERE
WERE FLAMES ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE INTERSTATE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN
RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THROUGHOUT
THE DAY.
SMOKE AND FLAMES ACROSS THE
REGION.
RAKING NEWS, PORTIONS OF I-80
ARE CLOSED.
THE TRAFFIC IS SOMETHING YOU
WILL BE DEALING WITH THROUGHOUT
THE EVENING.
WE ARE TRACKING THREE MAJOR
FIRES.
THE JONES FIRE IN NEVADA COUNTY.
>> THE FIRE COVERING SEVERAL
COUNTIES, IT IS THOSE RED DOTS.
IT IS CAUSING THE MOST CONCERN
TONIGHT.
WE JUST TOLD YOU WHAT IS
JUMPING HIGHWAY 80 FOUR
INTERSTATE 80.
MANY PEOPLE FORCED OUT OF THEIR
HOMES AS IT BEGINS TO SPREAD.
WORTHEN 46,000 ACRES BURNED SO
FAR.
>>> WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE
TRACKING THE FIRE.
JOHN HAS THE LATEST ON THE
FIREFIGHT.
>> Reporter: THERE HAS BEEN A
LOT OF OBSTACLES FOR THESE
CREWS.
WE HAVE STEEP TERRAIN AND
WINDING ROAD.
I AM IN AN AREA KNOWN AS
PLEASANT VALLEY.
IT IS A RURAL COMMUNITY OUTSIDE
OF THE CITY LIMITS IS.
IT WAS ACTUALLY THE POINT OF A
DRAMATIC MOMENT.
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE HELP OF
A LOT OF NEIGHBORS HELPING
NEIGHBORS, THE ANIMALS MAY HAVE
PERISHED.
WHEN A WILDFIRE BREAKS OUT,
JOHN GARDNER IS THE NEIGHBOR
YOU WANT.
FOR MY CLASSMATES EVACUATIONS
FORCED HUNDREDS OUT OF THE AREA.
A FEW PEOPLE LIKE JOHN AND HIS
EMPLOYEE STAYED BEHIND.
ARMED WITH JUST A FEW HAND
TOOLS AND A WATER HOSE, THEY
DROVE FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE,
TRYING TO OUTRUN THE FIRE.
THIS ROAD IS NOT EASY FOR A
FIRE TRUCK.
SEVERAL DOZEN HOMES ARE TUCKED
INTO THE RAVINES AND CANYONS.
ALONG THE WAY, WE FOUND FARM
ANIMALS A FEW FEET FROM THE
FIRE.
THESE ANIMAL BELONG TO THE RANCH
, THE SANCTUARY FOR RESCUED
LIVESTOCK.
IT IS A WALL OF FIRE HEADED
TOWARD THE ANIMALS.
>> Reporter: THEY STARTED TO DO
A BACK ROOM HOPING TO BURN UP
SOME OF THE BRUSH.
DEER AND OTHER WILDLIFE LEAVE.
MORE CREWS ARE CALLED INTO THE
AREA BUYING SOME TIME.
THANKS TO QUICK WORK FROM CREWS
AND THE HELPING HAND OF
NEIGHBORS, THESE ANIMALS WERE
SAVED.
ALL OF THE ANIMALS WERE TAKEN
OFF EXCEPT FOR THE CHICKEN.
THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON
GETTING THOSE GUYS OUT. THIS IS
AN AREA THAT IS STILL UNDER
MANDATORY EVACUATION.
WE HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME AREA
AND SHE IS AT THE EVACUATION
CENTER.
WHAT IS GOING ON THERE?
>> Reporter: WE ARE AT ONE OF
SEVERAL ROADBLOCKS SET UP AT
THE EVACUATION LINE WHERE WE
HAVE SEEN A LONG TRAIL OF
HOMEOWNERS WAITING TO GET BACK
INSIDE, ONLY TO CHECK ON THEIR
PROPERTIES.
I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU A LOOK,
OVER HERE WE ARE SEEING A NEW
SMOKE PLUME THAT HAS JUST
POPPED UP.
THE ANXIETY AND FEAR IS RUNNING
HIGH IN THIS COMMUNITY.
MOST OF THESE FOLKS HAD JUST
MOMENTS TO LEAVE, AND THE
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. I WANT TO
GIVE YOU A BETTER LOOK AT WHAT
WE SAW INSIDE OF THIS FIRE
TODAY.
FIREFIGHTERS WORKED AROUND THE
CLOCK TO SAVE THE HOMES THEY
COULD GET TO IN TIME.
VERY WINDY CONDITIONS, CAUSING
THIS FIRE TO MOVE QUICKLY. SOME
DECIDED TO STAY BEHIND TO KEEP
AN EYE ON THEIR HOMES.
>> I HAD TO GET MY KIDS AND MY
WIFE OUT.
MY FATHER-IN-LAW STAYED BEHIND.
I CAME BACK TO HELP HIM.
ALSO TO SAVE THE HOUSE.
WE HAVE SEEN QUITE A FEW
EVACUEES.
BEING ALLOWED BACK INTO CHECK
ON PROPERTIES.
MANY FOLKS ARE HOPEFUL THEY
HAVE A HOME TO GO BACK TO.
>>> THE EXTREME HEAT BEING
BLAMED AND THE LIGHTNING ARE
STARTING THEM.
>> WE HAVE EXTREMELY DRY RIGHT
NOW.
I WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH THAT
WHOLE PROCESS.
SMOKY SKIES RIGHT NOW.
HERE IS A LOOK AT THE FIRE NEAR
THE VACAVILLE AREA.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IS THE
PUSH OVER I-80.
ALL OF THOSE RED DOTS FORMING
OVER THE COURSE OF THE EARLY
PART OF THE DAY INTO THE
AFTERNOON.
THIS LOOKS APOCALYPTIC.
ALL OF THE FIRES BURNING RIGHT
NOW.
YOU CAN SEE THE INTENSITY OF
THE FLAMES.
HOW ARE WE GETTING THE SMOKE 30
MILES AWAY.
THESE WINS PULLING IT IN FROM
MULTIPLE FIRES BURNING ACROSS
THE AREA AND TOWARD THE COASTAL
RANGE.
IT IS HAZARDOUS IN MANY AREAS
IN THE PURPLE AND RED.
CURRENT TEMPERATURES, CLOSE TO
100.
IN FAIRFIELD, 102.
THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DEALING
WITH ON THE FIRE LINES.
WITH THE TEMPERATURE TREND,
THEY CONTINUE TO DRY OUT THE
FUEL.
THE RED FLAG WARNING IS IN
EFFECT THROUGH MORNING WITH
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY.
NOT TO MENTION THE EXCESSIVE
HEAT WARNING THAT