a ferocious wildfire in lake county has now charred more than 78 square miles and left people literally running for their lives. >> cal fire says 1,000 homes heave been reduced to rubble. >> today more than 70,000 people are under evacuation orders. >> more than 1,000 firefighters trying to beat back the flames. good evening. >> let's get straight now to live team coverage, beginning with cornell bernard in middletown. >> reporter: the devastation near middletown is simply unbelievable. you would not recognize it. dozens of homes destroyed by the monster valley fire, which went

through her last night, burning neighborhoods on both sides sidf highway 29. wore on jefferson street, where home after home is gone. cars, melted down to scrap. chimneys are the only things still standing. firefighters were able to save many homes in these neighborhoods, but it certainly wasn't easy. they say the wall of flames so ferocious, there simply wasn't time. we have been talking to folks who have sadly lost their homes, kimberly harper lost her hem, her two sons' homes also burned. >> awe know, i grabbed a few things. i grabbed a couple photo albums. you think you'll be prepared, and you're not. to grand the handle of clothes for or husband. we got our dog, couldn't get our cat because she ran and hid. and so-so photo albums and everything else is gone. my kids grabbed clothes.

they lost everything they own. they're representers so don't have insurance or anything. i'm more worried about them right now, i think, than us. >> reporter: kimberly says the main thing is everyone got out safely except for the family cat. most of downtown middletown survived the fire just fine, along with local schools. they're fine. twin pines casino is also still standing, but closed this weekend, obviously. as for this neighborhood and others in -- to save these places. we're live in middletown, abc7 news. >> thank you very much. what a terrifying scene behind him. the fire is so intense and erratic it's creating its own weather conditions, make it ill challenging for firefighters. drew tuma has more on the phenomenon and what firefighters are facing. >> it's truly frightening.

it's creates its open wind, moved through cobb and middletown and hidden valley lake, now moving to the south and east, bus canyon road. so what are firefighters facing? the temperature around 88. hot, relative humidity, bone dry. the winds prevailing out of the southwest at 13 miles-per-hour. so wind out of the south but since the fire creates its own weather condition it didn't go with the prevailing wind and firefighters have a tough time fighting the fire. here's some encouraging news. by wednesday afternoon we may see lying rain in the north bay. we'll talk about the entire bay area's rain forecast in a few minutes. >> for the latest on the fire, cal fire pio daniel berlant joins us by phone, thank you for spoking to us, walk us through the last 24 hours, what's the latest now? >> this fire is continuing to be active. we're not seeing it spread at

the same intensity as yesterday. yesterday's winds were significant, pushing the fire southeast. this fire is burning in a number of directions, not just to the south but also some areas on the north part of the fire, soda bay part of highway 29 seeing activity and not just -- the fire has been so fast moving as firefighters made progress, the fire would move on and take any progress that was made and make it unfortunately not able to slow down this fire. now, weather conditions are more favorable than what they had been yesterday, and even specially the temperatures we had seen earlier in the week. this fire being driven by the dry, dry conditions. so any rainfall we may see later in the week, obviously a welcome sign for us. >> academy, -- daniel, we're looking at live pictures of smoke coming off the fire line.

hour meteorologist was talking about changes wednesday. what the next 48 hours? >> we brought in hundreds of firefighters across the state to help make sure we continue to do structure protection for the thousands of homes around the area. this fire has already been a destructive fire, and as die instructive as it has been there are thousands of homes standing because firefighters were able to make a valiant stand light -- night, but several days more of make sure the fire stays away from those communities, from those homes. that's going to be a very difficult job because conditions are working against us. >> thank you very much. daniel berlant with cal fire. we appreciate it. >> evacuation centers are set up at the kelsyville presbyterian church and the calistoga fairground. the red cross set up shelters at the keelyville high school, napa

county fairgrounds. there's a full list on our web site, go to abc7news.com. >> drivers will be facing delays and detours because of the fire. the highway patrol closed northbound 129 to 175 in kelseyville and through lower lake. runs of people have been streaming into evacuation centers, one at napa valley fairgrounds. so have the donations. alan wong joins us. >> this place is full of people with stories of how they escaped, barely, with their lives. take a look. this is the napa county fairground in cal stowing gasser people -- calistoga, people are sharing stories, wondering if their home is there. as fast as the fires struck, this turned into a refugee camp

overnight. the red cross says between 5 communicate a thousand evacueeee ares camped out here. it's a collaboration between the understaffed red cross and community members bringing in supplies, fresh produce. their buying diapers at the store and shipping in pallets of water. the red cross says it no longer needs supplies and now is asking for cash donations only so it can get exactly what the evacees need. this is a conversation we listened to from a -- some people who escaped with the clothes on their back. >> they had all these firefighters around there, i was just like, -- [bleep] out of here. i thought, you got to be [bleep] kidding me. said you ain't got a baby you ain't got a dog, get your ass out of there. i'm like, all right, dude. >> we're hearing stories like that all over the place.

people lost their animals. those who saved them were only able to get enemy in the backs of cars. cal fire is preparing to give evacuees an update in communities in a half hour. we'll brick that to you at 5:00. i'm reporting live at the napa county fairground in calistoga, back to you. >> let's get another look live now from sky 7hd. you can see the smoke and flames, a thousand homes destroyed. again, the fire just keeps on growing, spreading because of the windy conditions and the incredibly dry brush, at least 50,000 acres burned so far. again, a thousand homes lost. hundreds of people showing up in these shelters in and around this fire scene in lake county, just really a terrible tragedy that continues to expand. >> just listen to that. this is incredible video posted

on facebook. dianne, a photographer, was riding with fire crews on highway 29 when there were several explosions like you just heard around a shell gas station. the said it was the tanks that were exploding. viewers in our community are helping to tell the story in real-time with photos and videos. look at images that have been posted on social media, many of. the overnight, showing some of the devastation that happened in the last several hours. i if you have any pictures or video of the fire or any news that happens where you live, please share it with us by posting on social media. use the hash tag, abc7 now. >> this special edition of abc7 news continues. still to come, the impact this huge fire is having on air quality across the bay area. you probable noticed it. >> the valley fire isn't the only wildfire keeping crews busy this weekend. we'll have an update on the butte fire burning near sacramento. >> another look live from sky

7hd over the fire in hawk county. we're on until 5:30 to bring you the latest on the valley fire. 50,000 acres have burned. mandatory evacuations are underway and 1,000 homes destroyed. >> i'm drew tuma, very good news in the weather forecast. wet weather moving in. i'll let you know when and how much in the full accuweather forecast

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breaking news. sky 7hd has live pictures of a the valley fire. it just exploded to more than acres now, and wind is spreading the fire toward napa county and the geysers area. no homes in sonoma county are threatened. cal fire spokesperson estimates at least 1,000 homes have been lost at this point. we do know at least 17,000 people have been evacuated from the area. there are now new evacuations south of clear lake. >> around the bay area ash can go seen around our community. more than 150 miles away. gives you a sense of how beside the fire is. claire, from our abc7 new community tweeted a photo of what was found on her truck. she says she has seen ash raining down. this photo is from our

meteorologist mick nico in the east bay, 100 miles away from the fire. a bay area air quality management spokesman says there's in health danger and sea breezes will clear the smoke. he advise avoiding heavy outdoor exercise. the contra costa county firefighters ask you not to call 9-1-1 unless you see an active fire. the valley fire has not prompted a smoke advisory for the bay area but we have gotten reports of ash falling as far as san jose. this video of ash on a car was taken in the east bay. the bay area air quality management district says that if you do see ash or smell smoke, stay inside and keep the doors and windows shut. it warns children, elderly and those with respiratory conditions should be the most cautious. >> the really fine particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs, those are the ones that can cause health effects. the ash is an indication those

could be present as welch it's the stuff that is small enough to be inhaled we are most concerned about. >> the district says today's strong sea breezes have helped keep the valley fire smoke from entering the bay area in any significant way. we'll continue to monitor the air quality levels across the region. >> so much devastation, cal fire officials report it the valley fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes so far. sergio quintana is live in the hidden valley lake community with the latest. >> reporter: this community is about a few miles north and east of middletown, but it's just unsettling to come into these neighborhoods and see entire homes that have been leveled and smoldering. a lost home there two lost homes across the street, and then in this direction you see there are some homes surviving. there's a cat in that yard. that's one of the few animals we have seen in this entire

community since we have been here. we have seen a few horses that have been abandoned because people had to get out of the area very, very quickly. right now, this place is evacuated. one of the reasons why is because it's still dangerous because there's downed power lines. the only people who are here are emergency crews, like firefighters, you can see them driving by. that truck had some water in the back. they're likely distributing that to a few of the people who are still here. we talked to a couple who managed to actually ward off a lot of the fire from their home with their home hoses. they stayed overnight. they tell us that the evacuation through here last night was chaotic, people were trying to get out here in any way possible, and when you look at the homes and sometimes even vehicles, just left right next

to the home, you can imagine how fast and chaotic that exit was. that couple we talked to told us they actually stayed through here and managed to save some of their neighbors' homes as well. we'll hear more from them in a half hour. reporting live in hidden valley lake, i'm sergio quintana, abc7 news news. >> you can imagine when you see devastation behind you that a garden hose won't have any effect. i hope too many people didn't stay put and fight for their homes because that won't work in that intensity. okay. i was toll we could go back to sergio, i was misinformed. my mallings. there are 20 active fires across the straight, including another large one southeast of sacramento. the beaut fire has burned more than 65,000 achers and destroyed 86 homes. that fire is 20% contained. a cal fire spokesperson believes it will grow tonight.

the emergency services chief for for brown says the summer's fires are spreading faster than they have seen in 30 years. >> our abc new community is sharing incredible videos and photos. take a look at the video of homes burned to the ground here. this shows the fire tearing through middletown. if you can safely share videos with us and help us tell the story, please do so,. >> we will continue our coverage of te devastating valley fire on this special of abc7 news including the look at what people saw as they were trying desperately to escape the flames last night. >> and will the weather help or hurt firefighters? a live look from the sutro camera right now and meteorologist drew tuma has the full forecast when abc7 news at 5 continues. now here's a look -- >> good evening, on world news tonight we are starting in california, the wildfires forcing evacuation, up to a thousand homes gone.

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saving the breaking news now in lake county where sky 7hd shows us images from the valley fire. the fire has burned through 50,000 acres. cal fire estimates up to a thousand homes have just burned to ground. 17,000 people are evacuate. >> so many don't know what they'll come home to. donations are pouring in for evacees, napa county officials say the calistoga shelter is inundate evidence with supplies. >> viewers in our abc7 new community are helping us tell the story. your videos and photos continue

to pour into the newsroom. david shot this video on highway before firefighters were able to get to this area. if you can safely shoot videos and show pictures, please do so, post it on social media with he hash tag abc7 now. >> emphasis on safely. the weather is such a key factor as firefighters try to fog the fire. >> it may be bittersweet for rain. live doppler 7hd right now is painting us a quiet picture. the winds are huge factor in the bay area, why we're not seeing poor air quality or smoke. the winds are coming through the golden gate strait and then disbursed throughout the day. you can see rather gusty, 14 in oakland, 18 at sfo.

giving us a wide range in temperatures right now. along the coast, we're in the 50s. 59 half moon bay, 92 in concord. 93 livermore, 89 santa rosa. here's the setup right now. an area of low pressure over the bay area. it will continue to do so for monday. the next 24 hours will be on the rather cloudy side. the second player we're watching is this area of cloud cover in the pacific. it's going to dive south first on tuesday, bring us cooler temperatures, and then the possibility of some rainfall. so future weather picks it tonight and tomorrow morning, you wake up monday morning, generally overcast. we're on the dry side. the clouds stick with us for monday. so monday is going to be limited sunshine to start off the new work and school week. fast forward into wednesday. the area of low pressure drops in from the north.

and as it dives to the south it will bring gusty winds, 30 to 40 miles-per-hour is possible, and unfortunately looks like it dissipates before it makes into san francisco and south bay. but the north bay could get a quarter to as much as half inch of rain on wednesday. overnight tonight, cloudy, overnight flows the mid-50s to mid-60s across the bay area. tomorrow, south bay, cloudy day. temperatures limited. 78 the high in san jose, 80 for morgan hill. 77, santa clara. 76 the high for sunnyvale. along the peninsula, limited sunshine. 71 san mateo, 71 redwood city. 60 in pacifica. downtown san francisco tomorrow, mainly cloudy, 67 downtown, cool in daly city at 59. fog. 60 for sunset district. north bay, don't see any intense heat out there with that limited sunshine. that's good news for the firefighters. unfortunately they'll have the

chaotic winds and the fire creating it open wind. 71 santa rosa. 75 napa. 65 san rafael. and 60 the high for bodega bay. east bay, 69 berkeley. 70, oakland. below normal. 73 the high for union city. 68 richmond. 72 hercules, 74 fremont. inland locations, it's not hot but rather warm. we'll call it mild. mainly cloudy. 80, san ramon, 81 in livermore. here's the accuweather seven-day forecast, tomorrow we're mainly cloudy out there, we're dry. by tuesday, that area of low pressure dives in from the pacific northwest. we stay well below normal. look at the inland, only in the 70s, along the coast, low 60s. then on wednesday, mid-week, we see the chance of showers out there. likely in the north bay right now, and mainly a quarter inch is like lie -- likely long with

the gusty winds. by thursday, drying out, partly cloudy, and then the second half of the seven-day forecast will warm back up, and likely get more heat unfortunately. wednesday we track the rain but encouraging news. >> this is always fascinating, they create their own wind. >> and also, the ash can create friction, and then lightning. so they can create their own new fires. >> some firefighters have been talking about really a terrifying -- imagine how difficult to fight. you're on the firelines, you create a fireline, and then the ash flies over you, 100 yards away, lands behind you, starts a fire there. >> incredible. fryingening. >> thank you, drew. >> next at 5:00, we're going to take you straight to this tweet from the national weather service right now. they're actually thanking us for the live feed from sky 7hd we have been putting up, showing you guys. they're using it as they track

the fire as well. >> the national weather service is going learn from those aerial photos and so can the firefighters as well. this is some sort of geothermal plant. sky 7hd is live over this facility. you can see some charred ground to the right on your screen there, and a lot of smoke. this is north of st. helena, and something that of course firefighters and cal fire will want to protect this facility as best they can. so far it looks like it's doing looter all -- all right, but cly in the path of flames and smoke. >> we're talking about the winds, this morning, daniel berlant of cal fire was saying embers were being blown into unexpected places and just sparking fires 100, 200 yards away from the current fireplace -- current fire line. i. >> likely to change. let's go to sergio quintana-who is live at a community so hard hit by the fire. looks like a moonscape or

nuclear winter behind you. it's incredible. >> reporter: it's unsettling when you drive into the neighborhoods. i was just here about a month ago, because this where is a lot of people had evacuated to. we are in hidden valley lake. people actually brought their animals here, too, because there's an equestions central center down the street. they're filled with a few moneys there. when you look at scenes like this, there's a home here, and two vehicles that are just burned out. we know that there was a rushed evacuation from the neighborhoods last night. so, i have to wonder how these people were able to get out if they got out safelily. what is also kind of scary, you can still feel the heat from the fire that took down the homes. >> sergio, thank you very much. reporting live from the fire zone. >> next at 5:00, we'll take you to middletown, one of the harder

hit areas in lake county. dozens of homes lost. we'll have a live report. >> hundreds of people streaming into evacuation center. the help they're getting after having to rush out of homes in ♪ ♪ grow old with me ♪ let us share what we see ♪ just you and i ♪ ♪ grow old with me ♪ let us share what we see ♪ and oh the best it could be ♪ just you and i ♪

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a fierce fire devours an entire neighborhood block in lake county, reducing 1,000 homes to ash and forcing residents to run for their lives. >> i grabbed a few things. i grabbed a couple of photo albums. you think you'll be prepared. and you're not. >> no way to prepare for that. so terrifying and so fast. home after home now gone. and right now this fire is only getting larger. good evening. i'm dan ashley. >> i'm natasha. here's the latest information given to us minutes ago by cal fire on the fast-moving, explosive fire. the fire is currently at 50,000 acres. zero percent contained. according to cal fire it has destroyed around a thousand homes so far and more than a thousand forths are i