in lake county, kate kolgarin, for cbs news. >>> the tampa area is drying out this morning after several days of punishing rain and flash flooding forced the evacuation of two mobile home parks. police and firefighters rescued about 40 residents, carrying some of them to safety on their backs. some families lost their homes in the flash flooding. >> it came up so fast! so fast. i couldn't believe it! and when it starts coming in, it becomes really frightening. >> sheriff's deputies used boats to save elderly residents trapped by flootdwaters. heavy down waters caused a local creek overflowed their bank near a nursing home. several days of rain swamped streets throughout the tampa area snarling traffic. >>> a chance for the crowded field of republican presidential candidates to share their messages before the likely combative nature of thursday night's debate. 14 of the 17 gop contenders answered questions at a forum in new hampshire. they shared their views on topics like immigration, the economy, obamacare, security, and hillary clinton. >> the american people don't trust washington, d.

kate kolgarin of our san francisco station kpix reports. >> reporter: during the daylight hours we watched helicopters and tankers made drop after drop after drop. >> we saw fire consume about 20,000 acres in the span of about five hours at nighttime. so that is pretty incredible unprecedented as we said something earlier in the fire. >> reporter: one of the refueling spots here you can see over here the helicopters can refuel up to 5,000 gallons of water in less than 25 seconds. by nightfall the fire grew more and this lady is getting a front row seat. >> when the smoke and flames fly up are like a hurricane is behind them, you get really nervous. >> reporter: she says they are ready to go at a moment's notice but david didn't want to wait for that moment to come. >> it's like if it burns, it burns. it's tough. thinking, you know, i could come back home but, once again as long as i'm okay life goes on. >> reporter: firefighters say. >> if the fire engines are competing for roadway with the people who are evacuating it makes it dangerous for everybody. >> reporter: as we have seen a lot co