Creek Fire

Video shows fast-moving Creek Fire overrun firefighters trying to save neighborhood

A Merced Fire engine had to "drive through a wall of flames" to escape massive wildfire.
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
New helmet camera video shows the first 12 hours of the firefight, and how close crews came to the dangerous flames while trying to save homes in a neighborhood.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Firefighters from across the Central Valley and state have been working around the clock battling the massive Creek Fire since it first sparked on Sept. 4.

The fast-moving wildfire prompted thousands to evacuate and destroyed homes and businesses in the foothill communities.

RELATED: Creek Fire: 220,025 acres burned with 16% containment
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New helmet camera videos released by the Merced City Fire Department shows the first 12 hours of the firefight, and just how close crews came to the dangerous flames while trying to save homes in an undisclosed neighborhood.

Watch the astounding video from the Merced City Fire Department in the video player above.

In the video, firefighters can be seen trying to attack the blaze with water as the flames move toward them, and a thick wave of smoke fills the air.



The video also captured Merced Fire's OES 393 crew being overrun by the Creek Fire as it moved in fast to consume a neighborhood. Their engine had to "drive through a wall of flames" to escape, Merced Fire said.

"They work hard and right to the edge of danger. At times they are able to save homes, and other times, they are (overrun). It breaks their hearts when the fire wins," the department wrote on Facebook.

PHOTOS: Stunning images from the Creek Fire
The smoldering remains of a structure along Auberry Road, where Creek Fire tore through and jumped CA-168, on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, California.none
The smoldering remains of a structure along Auberry Road, where Creek Fire tore through and jumped CA-168, on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, California.none
The smoldering remains of a structure along Auberry Road, where Creek Fire tore through and jumped CA-168, on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, California.none
The smoldering remains of Cressman's General Store and Gas Station along CA-168 on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, California.none
The ruins of a home are seen in the wake of flames during the Creek Fire on September 8, 2020, near Shaver Lake, California.none
The ruins of a home are seen in the wake of flames during the Creek Fire on September 8, 2020, near Shaver Lake, California.none
The ruins of a home are seen in the wake of flames during the Creek Fire on September 8, 2020, near Shaver Lake, California.none
Burned vehicles are seen at the Creek Fire on September 8, 2020, near Shaver Lake, California.none
A power line dangles along Auberry Road following the Creek Fire on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, Calif.AP
Tim Lesmeister, of the Clovis Fire Department, walks along a road putting out hotspots left behind by the Creek Fire Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Tollhouse, Calif.AP
A sign hangs in front of a property along Highway 168 after the Creek Fire burned though Fresno County, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020.AP
A scorched truck rests on Highway 168 after the Creek Fire burned through the area on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, Calif.AP
Rick Archuleta of the Clovis Fire Department hoses down hotspots left behind by the Creek Fire Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Tollhouse, Calif.AP
Property is left in ruins after the Creek Fire passed through Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Tollhouse, Calif.AP
A fire-ravaged structure smolders after the Creek Fire passed through Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Tollhouse, Calif.AP
Tim Lesmeister, right, and Rick Archuleta, of the Clovis Fire Department, put out hotspots left behind by the Creek Fire Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Tollhouse, Calif.AP
Recreational vehicles are lined up in a fire-ravaged property after the Creek Fire passed through Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Tollhouse, Calif.AP
Tim Lesmeister, left, and Rick Archuleta, of the Clovis Fire Department, walk along a road monitoring hotspots left behind by the Creek Fire, Sept. 8, 2020, in Tollhouse, Calif.AP
The remains of the Valero gas station at Cressman's smolder during the Creek Fire in an unincorporated area of Fresno County, California, on September 08, 2020.none
The remains of the Valero gas station at Cressman's smolder during the Creek Fire in an unincorporated area of Fresno County, California, on September 08, 2020.none
The remains of the Valero gas station at Cressman's smolder during the Creek Fire in an unincorporated area of Fresno County, California, on September 08, 2020.none
The remains of the Valero gas station at Cressman's smolder during the Creek Fire in an unincorporated area of Fresno County, California, on September 08, 2020.none
A table stands outside the destroyed Cressman's General Store after the Creek Fire burned through Fresno County, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020.AP
A power line dangles along Auberry Road following the Creek Fire on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, Calif.AP
Firefighter Dan Robles extinguishes a hot spot while battling the Creek Fire on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, Calif.AP
A scorched truck rests on Highway 168 after the Creek Fire burned through the area on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, Calif.AP
Charred remains is all that is left of a home destroyed by the Creek Fire on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, Calif.AP
A scorched truck rests on Highway 168 after the Creek Fire burned through the area on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, Calif.AP
A melted slide stands in the playground at the Pine Ridge School in Fresno County, Calif., after the Creek Fire burned through the area on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020.AP
Flames burn at a home leveled by the Creek Fire along Highway 168 on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, Calif.AP
A view of the Creek Fire from along Tollhouse Road during the Creek Fire on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Auberry, California.none
A view of the Creek Fire from along Tollhouse Road during the Creek Fire on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Auberry, California.none
The Creek Fire jumps CA-168 on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Fresno County, California.none
A home is engulfed in flames during the Creek Fire in the Tollhouse area of unincorporated Fresno County, California, early on September 8, 2020.none
Embers fall around a photographer as the Creek Fire rapidly expands on September 8, 2020, near Shaver Lake, California.none
Flames incinerate a forest as the Creek Fire rapidly expands on September 8, 2020, near Shaver Lake, California.none
Smoke from the Creek Fire envelopes trees in the Cascadel Woods community of Madera County, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020.AP
The Creek Fire burns along a hillside in the Cascadel Woods community of Madera County, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020.AP
Emergency vehicles are driven along Highway 168 as the Creek Fire advances Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, near Alder Springs, Calif.AP
A fire official talks to members of the press at a check point as the Creek Fire advances along Highway 168 Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, near Alder Springs, Calif.AP
The Creek Fire burns on a ridge top along Highway 168 Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, near Alder Springs, Calif.AP
A fire truck drives along Highway 168 while battling the Creek Fire in the Shaver Lake community of Fresno County, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020.AP
Firefighter Nick Grinstead battles the Creek Fire in the Shaver Lake community of Fresno County, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020.AP
A firefighter battles the Creek Fire as it threatens homes in the Cascadel Woods neighborhood of Madera County, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020.none
A business owner, who declined to give his name, walks next to kayaks he rents as smoke from the Creek Fire fills the sky, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Shaver Lake, Calif.none
Smoke from the Creek Fire fills the air over a boating dock, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Shaver Lake, Calif.none
Members of the Laguna Hotshots make a stand on a hilltop near a power station while fighting the Creek Fire, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Big Creek, Calif.none
A firefighter runs with a hose in front of a structure while fighting the Creek Fire, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Shaver Lake, Calif.none
The Creek Fire burns in the Sierra National Forest, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, near Big Creek, Calif.none
Gabe Huck, a member of a San Benito Monterey Cal Fire crew, walks along state Highway 168 while fighting the Creek Fire, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Shaver Lake, Calif.none
A firefighter walks along state Highway 168 with a drip torch during a controlled burn to fight the Creek Fire, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Shaver Lake, Calif.none
Dozens of evacuees are evacuated to safety on a Cal Guard Chinook Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, after the Creek Fire in central California left them stranded.none
moke from a wildfire rises into the air near Shaver Lake, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020.none
In this photo provided by the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, smoke from a wildfire rises into the sky near Shaver Lake, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020.none

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Merced Fire said all residents who live on the street in the video were informed of the footage before it was released.

The department said the crew "fought until the final moments of being pinched off by the fire."

Merced Fire said they shared the footage to show how hard firefighters are working to try and salvage communities being threatened by wildfires.

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