‘The fire is right on my house’

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The ridges above Modjeska Canyon are completely engulfed in 50 to 75 feet high flames, and firefighters were unable to battle them. The canyon was too narrow and the heat and flames too intense to try to save 330 homes in the canyon. It was not immediately clear how many were burned.

Nearly all the residents evacuated early today, and the few who were left fled at about 10:45 this morning.

Resident Mark Jackson ran up to fire fighters and said, “The fire is right on my house. This is really scary. I lived through eight fires out here, and I’ve never seen anything like this. Why can’t you do anything?”

John Kinsman, who was fleeing the canyon with his three dogs and one cat said, “The fire was eating up my house right now!”

No firefighters were available to help put out the flames.

-- Janet Wilson in Modjeska Canyon