The Willow Fire: Wildfire Destroys Homes

On the second day of this California wildfire, the wind driven flames burn out of the San Bernardino National Forest and into a ranch style neighborhood just outside the town of Apple Valley.

This fire began near Lake Arrowhead on Saturday August 28, 1999 and burned for several days. For a time it was the largest fire in the nation, until others surpassed it.

On Sunday afternoon, August 29, the wind kicked up and pushed a wall of flames north into the area of homes, twelve were destroyed. Several caught fire before firefighters staged nearby even knew it.

In my video, 5 homes are shown burning, firefighters are working on saving one structure as fire rages around us, an elderly man is carried away from his property and convinced to leave and other scenes of the fire.

Shot on SVHS, originally aired on "Dateline", all Los Angeles TV Stations and CBS News Path, ABC News One, NBC News Channel for network and affiliates.

Photography by Larry R. Erickson - Copyright 1999 All Rights Reserved

Category:

News & Politics

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• wildfires
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• r.
• erickson

[blinko656]

Larry some of the best footage on youtube. sorry....

[LarryRErickson]

I appreciate that Capt. (sorry...??)

[theojer87]

wow best photage on yutube

[andnowyourott]

lol nice wind, i bet that helped the situation a shit ton.

[1wickedfireman3]

Dude Ive learned. Sae what you can and let the rest go, my life isnt worth losing over some house or cow for that matter!!!

[StormOfSwords]

Seriously. let the mofo burn (save the cow).

[blinko656]

I don't know why I put sorry. looooll.

Mike

[1wickedfireman3]

Wow that house didnt stand a chance!!!

[EZSEEK]

Just want to say to all you who fight these for us, God Bless you all!!!!.. You guys and Gals are Number 1 in my book :O).. These are true Hero's that risk there life and lungs for us, and not for much money in the end, but to save a life they get paid allot... Keep on Keep'n on!!!...

Seek!, and Ye shall find..

[littleboo9000000]

whhoo! man that fire was a doozy.

my dad said that hell was freazing over.

ha it felt like it as but were safe now but the winds are coming back