Fea Fire News Today

Resident richard billas works on the east side of the city and lives less than a mile from the forest that bothers the town. on a windy late summer day this quiet neighborhood is about to become a death trap. >> texas is now officially suffering its second worst drought ever. >> it had been months before it has rained. the worst drought we have seen. >> on top of the lack of rein is the heat and today dallas will be at or above 100 degrees for the 39th day in a row. >> thousands of acres of dry ...

After house. maureen gapp is one of dozens of residents who can only watch as lava moves in on her home. >> right there. and i just -- i still think im going to wake up tomorrow in my bedroom and everything is going to be here. and i dont know what is going to happen when i wake up and it is not. it is going to be hard. >> once the lava reaches her home, it ignites an intense fire. when all is said and done, miraclously, no lives are lost but the town is almost completely covered. some hawaiians...

Moving lava flow could take weeks to reach deep into the city. for thevides time fortress residents to prepare or to evacuate. the long wait toughened out where it goes takes an emotional toll. >> it was agonizing. the people were saying is it going to stop. is it going to take my house. some people would move their houses. some people would pack up belongings and leave. some people just left everything there and walked away. it was pretty crazy. >> the river of fire is unstoppable with the volc...

1599 other times. fire can take everything you got just like that. >> the historic blaze claims the lives of two residents and consumes 34,000 acres. richard counts his blessings and because he stayed behind and filmed his footage can now be used by the texas forest service to better understand the path the fea fire took. even so, he has a word of warning for those who find themselves in the path of a wildfire. >> my advice to others, if you can get out, get out when you can. >> lucky to see you...

I was scared at that point. there is fire all around you and not a lot that you can do about it. just hope that it doesnt get you. >> rather than sit and wait for the fire to reach them, richard takes off in his truck driving toward the smoke. >> looks like im rolling through a war zone. >> i wanted to make sure that if there was something that i could put out i was going to put it out. >> richard takes a proactive approach. partly because of his good samaritan spirit on partly out of self-prese...

That the house would probably burn down. >> even though most of his neighbors leave, richard is determined to protect his home. he furiously waters his yard and monitors the approaching smoke. but his decision to stay puts him in increasing danger. >> i started getting worried when i notice the fire coming down mcallister and everything was getting smoked out down here and the firefighters were backing up from the fire. it looked apocalyptic to me. >> and it is not long before things go from wad...

His home is still standing. >> we just didnt know and we couldnt get anybody to tell us. >> finally, richard gets the call he has been waiting for. >> two weeks later someone was able to check the neighborhood. they told us that our house was still there. >> the fire has died down just across the road from richards home. >> the fire was about 150-yards from where im standing right here. you look straight over there you can still see where it is kind of burnt and went right on past us. >> in a st...

The smoke in the distance. >> there is a huge fire burning out here. >> i see something intense or extreme like that i will pull out my phone and start shooting film. >> fast drop county is going crazy. >> despite the risk richard continues to film while he drives. a dangerous combination considering the circumstances. he cant keep his eyes off the hypnotic smoke bill lows towering over the texas trees. but he has yet to realize the danger he is about to face. as soon as he gets home the fire de...