Jones Fire burning west of Nevada City prompts mandatory evacuations

Doug Johnson reports

RIDGE, THERE ARE HOMES AND ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED.THEY MIGHT HAVE NOTHING TOCOME BACK TO.I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORENERVOUS.ABOUT MY HOUSE BURNING DOWNBECAUSE I LIVE 2 MILES AWAYFROM HERE.JONES FIRE HAS MANY LIVE INRURAL NEVADA COUNTY ON EDGE.CAL FIRE JUST SAID THAT ANDSWARMING DOWN THERE SO ITMIGHT COME UP THIS CAN LETLOOSE IN THE AREA.

HE SAYSHE'S BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYEON THE FIRE'S PROGRESS BURNINGUP A STEEP BRIDGE.FUELED BY DRY HOT WINDS.

ICOULD SEE THAT TOPS OF THETREES WHERE OR CATCHING IT WASDOING LIKE A CROWN FIRE ANDTHEN ALL THE SUDDEN YOU CANSEE A BLACK THAT PLUME COMETHROUGH ALL THE GRAY SMOKE.BECAUSE IT'S SO STEVEFIREFIGHTERS OFTEN HAD TO WAITFOR THE FLAMES TO REACH THETOP OF THE RIDGE BEFORE THEYCAN ACTUALLY FIGHTING.

WELLAIR CRAFT ATTACK THE BLAZEFROM THE AIR.

SOME TAKERSHAVING TO MAKE TYPE ONMANEUVERS TO GET THE RETARDANTDROPS WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE.FIRE STILL NOT SAY WHAT CAUSEDTHE JONES FIRE.

AS BACCHUSSAYS HE KNOWS IT WAS LIGHTNINGMY MOM.SAID SHE WOKE UP HERLIGHTNING STRIKE FELT THELIGHTNING STRIKE LIKE SHE SAIDTHE GROUND RUMBLED.

IT WASDEFINITELY LIKE.MANY ARE TRYING TO DECIDETHEY SHOULD GET ALL THEIRANIMALS OUT I GOT 19 LAMASTHESE.AND ON THAT RIDGE, IT'SMOSTLY ALL FARM IT'S PRETTYSCARY.YEAH, AND IT'S HARD TO SEERIGHT NOW BUT THERE AREAIRCRAFT IN THE SKIES VERYHAZY VERY SMOKY.

SOME OF THEM,MAKING WATER EVEN THIS WE ARESEEING TANKERS COMING IN STILLRIGHT NOW.

THE FIRE THOUGH ASYOU CAN SEE VERY STEEP TERRAINAND THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM FORFIREFIGHTERS TO GET INTOBECAUSE YOU CAN'T REALLY WALKIN THAT AREA THEY HAVE TO WAITUNTIL THE FIRE REALLY GETS TOTHE TOP OF THE RIDGE WITH THEPROBLEM HERE IS THE TOP OFTHAT RIDGE, THERE ARE HOMES ORTO LIVE IN NEVADA COUNTYTONIGHT, DOUG JOHNSON, FOX 40NEWS.DOUG THANK YOU ANDEVACUATION ORDERS ARE UNDER