homes and claiming the lives of 15 people including a firefighter from the bay area. 38-year-old steven rucker of me -- novato were killed. >> let's go. let's get out of here. >> reporter: highway 79 was the major battleground today. at one point the flames jumped this highway on interstate 8 sending people running including us when we found a wall of flames between us and the car. >> you want to make a run for it? here we go. >> the san diego county fire department are ordering a mandatory evacuation in the area. >> reporter: later on, the fire department evacuated. >> this one is close to the east too. >> i live here so we're out of here right now. so he's coming around the corner right now. i will just sit here and wait and see which way he wants to go. >> how are you feeling? >> i'm scared, i'm scared, i'm scared. >> some evacuees decided to wait it out. at this point i don't know. we're just waiting. >> then it was up to firefighters watching the wall of flames at bad. how long do you stay before you think, i have to get out of here. >> as soon as we get set and hold the line. we're going