We had some fires here pretty bad a couple of years ago, and one of the local radio hosts was affected. She and her family had been evacuated, and when they got to the end of their street they realized they had forgotten something. They turned around to go back and they couldn't make it- the smoke was so thick, and as they found out later, their house was likely already burning.
People don't realize just how devastating this kind of thing can be, and how fast it can move until you have seen it first hand.
And I really don't recommend seeing it first hand if there is any way you can avoid it.
Def