VIDEO: More than 200 people had to be rescued Saturday after getting trapped near a lake because of the Creek Fire burning 73,378 acres in Fresno County.
A dramatic rescue using helicopters by the California National Guard lifted people to safety. For some Bay Area hikers, however, they had to drive their way out of danger and that meant passing through the burning forest to get to safety.
Luz Pena from our sister station KGO-TV spoke to a group of friends about their harrowing escape where minutes felt like hours.
"You could literally feel the heat inside the car," said Bana, the driver of the group.
Inside the car, five Bay Area friends on a backpacking trip telling each other they were going to survive.
"Fearful because I realized how close of a call it was," Juliana Park said.
"A bunch of fire...everything was lit. It was pretty scary," described Devin Villarosa.