Described as the worst fire ever seen in California’s Lake County, the Valley fire has thus far burned nearly 96 square miles and is only 5 percent contained, even with almost 1,500 firefighters battling it. Early reports suggest that close to half the town of Middletown was engulfed. Whole blocks of homes and businesses were destroyed, including a newly constructed elementary school, after the fire exploded outward over the weekend, fueled by extremely dry conditions.
This video purports to have been captured during a last-minute driving escape from the nearby town of Anderson Springs, demonstrating the nightmarish fire conditions that continue to displace residents in the drought-ridden state.