'It Looks Like a Horror Film': Dixie Fire Evacuee Shares Firsthand Perspective As Firefighters Battle Blaze
/ CBS Sacramento
PLUMAS COUNTY (CBS13) — California's largest wildfire so far this year continues to burn through Butte, Plumas and Lassen counties. The Dixie Fire merged with the Fly Fire overnight on Saturday and forced more people out of their homes, and burned parts of tiny towns to the ground.
The Dixie Fire has scorched hundreds of thousands of acres, already. Video shows crackling flames shooting into the sky and towering over trees. The windy, dry and hot conditions continue to fuel the flames in the remote area.
"It looks like a horror film to be honest," said Jake Edwards.
He was given a warning to evacuate earlier in the week and took the opportunity. He still hasn't been given the official order, but many of his neighbors have. The fire continues to move closer towards his Plumas County home.
Edwards, a photographer, continues to share photos and video of the scene on his Instagram, @scenescapery. He's captured bright orange skies, and an ashy Lake Almanor - calling the area "apocalyptic." Some photos reveal mainly wildlife left behind.
"It's been absolutely bizarre," he said. "With the smoke, you can't breathe. This really taken a toll on all of Plumas County."
The toll has especially been felt by the tiny towns of Paxton and Indian Falls. Craig Philpott, an independent reporter out covering the Northern California wildfires, said he watched as several homes burned to the ground.
"The fire further up in the hills was throwing embers into this little community," Philpott said.
He recalled seeing children's toys out in torched yards and believes everyone in the area had been able to fully evacuate. Charred remains of the homes were visible in the Sunday daylight.
Evacuation information can be found here. See photos of the Dixie Fire below.
A fire train sprays water along railroad tracks near flames during the Dixie fire in unincorporated Plumas County on July 25, 2021. - The Dixie fire has now burned more than 190,000 acres and continues to edge closer to more residential communities. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)Downed power lines lay across a road as burned vehicles smolder during the Dixie fire in the Indian Falls area of unincorporated Plumas County on July 25, 2021. - The Dixie fire has now burned more than 190,000 acres and continues to edge closer to more residential communities. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)Burned vehicles smolder at a property during the Dixie fire in the Indian Falls area of unincorporated Plumas County on July 25, 2021. - The Dixie fire has now burned more than 190,000 acres and continues to edge closer to more residential communities. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)A partially burned power pole is suspended by electrical lines during the Dixie fire in unincorporated Plumas County on July 25, 2021. - The Dixie fire has now burned more than 190,000 acres and continues to edge closer to more residential communities. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)A burnt Corvette smolders at a property during the Dixie fire in the Indian Falls area of unincorporated Plumas County on July 25, 2021. - The Dixie fire has now burned more than 190,000 acres and continues to edge closer to more residential communities. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)Burned vehicles smolder at a property during the Dixie fire in the Indian Falls area of unincorporated Plumas County on July 25, 2021. - The Dixie fire has now burned more than 190,000 acres and continues to edge closer to more residential communities. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)Power lines lay on the smoldering remains of vehicles during the Dixie fire in the Indian Falls area of unincorporated Plumas County on July 25, 2021. - The Dixie fire has now burned more than 190,000 acres and continues to edge closer to more residential communities. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)A burned motorcycle smolders during the Dixie fire in the Indian Falls area of unincorporated Plumas County on July 25, 2021. - The Dixie fire has now burned more than 190,000 acres and continues to edge closer to more residential communities. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)A firefighter monitors a fire as multiple structures burn in the Indian Falls neighborhood during the Dixie Fire near Crescent Mills, California, U.S., on Saturday, July 24, 2021. At more than 221 square miles in size, the Dixie Fire is now the largest wildfire in California. Photographer: David Odisho/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesA vehicle burns in the Indian Falls neighborhood during the Dixie Fire near Crescent Mills, California, U.S., on Saturday, July 24, 2021. At more than 221 square miles in size, the Dixie Fire is now the largest wildfire in California. Photographer: David Odisho/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesFirefighters walk towards a fire in the Indian Falls neighborhood during the Dixie Fire near Crescent Mills, California, U.S., on Saturday, July 24, 2021. At more than 221 square miles in size, the Dixie Fire is now the largest wildfire in California. Photographer: David Odisho/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesA firefighter monitors a fire as multiple structures burn in the Indian Falls neighborhood during the Dixie Fire near Crescent Mills, California, U.S., on Saturday, July 24, 2021. At more than 221 square miles in size, the Dixie Fire is now the largest wildfire in California. Photographer: David Odisho/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesQUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââSky turns orange with smoke haze from the Dixie Fire in Greenvillein Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: Flames rise along both sides of Highway 70 and the Feather River Canyon as the main Dixie Fire and a spot fire that was also several thousand acres joined back together in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââSky turns orange with smoke haze from the Dixie Fire in Greenvillein Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: Flames rise along both sides of Highway 70 and the Feather River Canyon as the main Dixie Fire and a spot fire that was also several thousand acres joined back together in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: A view of smoke caused by Dixie Fire near Canyondam, Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: A view of ashes caused by Dixie Fire near Canyondam, Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââFirefighters try to reach the area because of the dangerous fire on both sides of the highway as flames rise after wind caused the Dixie fire to exhibit intense fire and destroyed multiple structures in the Indian Fall area along Highway 89 in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââFirefighters try to reach the area because of the dangerous fire on both sides of the highway as flames rise after wind caused the Dixie fire to exhibit intense fire and destroyed multiple structures in the Indian Fall area along Highway 89 in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââFirefighters try to reach the area because of the dangerous fire on both sides of the highway as flames rise after wind caused the Dixie fire to exhibit intense fire and destroyed multiple structures in the Indian Fall area along Highway 89 in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââFirefighters try to reach the area because of the dangerous fire on both sides of the highway as flames rise after wind caused the Dixie fire to exhibit intense fire and destroyed multiple structures in the Indian Fall area along Highway 89 in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââFirefighters try to reach the area because of the dangerous fire on both sides of the highway as flames rise after wind caused the Dixie fire to exhibit intense fire and destroyed multiple structures in the Indian Fall area along Highway 89 in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââFirefighters try to reach the area because of the dangerous fire on both sides of the highway as flames rise after wind caused the Dixie fire to exhibit intense fire and destroyed multiple structures in the Indian Fall area along Highway 89 in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââFirefighters try to reach the area because of the dangerous fire on both sides of the highway as flames rise after wind caused the Dixie fire to exhibit intense fire and destroyed multiple structures in the Indian Fall area along Highway 89 in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââFirefighters try to reach the area because of the dangerous fire on both sides of the highway as flames rise after wind caused the Dixie fire to exhibit intense fire and destroyed multiple structures in the Indian Fall area along Highway 89 in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââFirefighters try to reach the area because of the dangerous fire on both sides of the highway as flames rise after wind caused the Dixie fire to exhibit intense fire and destroyed multiple structures in the Indian Fall area along Highway 89 in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââFirefighters try to reach the area because of the dangerous fire on both sides of the highway as flames rise after wind caused the Dixie fire to exhibit intense fire and destroyed multiple structures in the Indian Fall area along Highway 89 in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââFirefighters try to reach the area because of the dangerous fire on both sides of the highway as flames rise after wind caused the Dixie fire to exhibit intense fire and destroyed multiple structures in the Indian Fall area along Highway 89 in Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)QUINCY, CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 25: ââââââSky turns orange with smoke haze from the Dixie Fire in Greenvillein Quincy, California on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Crews from across the state have teamed up to contain the Dixie Fire, including Sacramento Metro Fire. Captain Chris Vestal with the department said four members of their team are up in Butte County. They moved there from the Bootleg Fire in Oregon just days ago. The constant shift and movement put them to the test.
"Coming right on the back of each other – it does become an endurance game," said Vestal. "For the entire summer."
Vestal said fire seasons continue to get longer in California, a cause for concern. Both patience and perseverance are needed to battle the blaze, as people wait to learn if, and when, they have a home to return to.
More than 5,000 fire personnel are on staff for this fire. Because of the merge between the Dixie and Fly Fires, there will no longer be updates on the Fly Fire specifically. As of Sunday night, the Dixie Fire is 21% contained.
