Lake County residents jump into pool to escape Valley Fire

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. -- People in Lake County did whatever they had to do to save themselves, their families, and their pets as the [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/tag/valley-fire/" TARGET="" REL=""]fast-moving Valley Fire[/url] tore through the region. So far the fire has scorched 62,000 acres, forced more than 17,000 people to evacuate, and [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/valley-fire-victim-idd-as-woman-with-multiple-sclerosis/984652/" TARGET="" REL=""]killed one person[/url].[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/donations-how-to-help-valley-fire-victims/982772/" TARGET="" REL=""]DONATIONS: How to help victims of the Valley Fire where you live[/url][/b][br /][br /]One person affected by the fire told ABC7 News on Monday that it came upon them so fast that they didn't have a whole lot of options. They didn't want to get trapped in their home, so their pool was the next safest option.[br /][br /]As the Valley Fire tore through Hidden Valley Lake, Dino Belluomini's neighbor came with his two kids and told everyone to jump in the pool.[br /][br /]"He said it's just gonna pass fast," said Belluomini. "And it was probably like about 15 minutes but it felt like over an hour."[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/photos-fire-crews-battle-10000-acre-valley-fire-in-lake-county/981528/" TARGET="" REL=""]PHOTOS: Fire crews battle massive Valley Fire[/url][/b][br /][post ID="981528" /][br /][br /]Seven people and two dogs stayed put, up to their noses. The heat was intense.[br /][br /]"It was hot and it just came flying right over, right over, and he said when it was done he goes, 'It's over,'" said Belluomini[br /][br /]They tried to leave, but the roads were jammed up and then it was too late. Now they don't want to leave because they worry they won't be able to get back in.[br /][br /]Driving through Hidden Valley Lake is like driving through a war zone. Entire homes are gone. And fire continues to eat away at anything it can.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/pets/crews-work-to-save-animals-that-survived-valley-fire/984732/" TARGET="" REL=""]VIDEO: Crews work to save animals that survived Valley Fire[/url][/b][br /][post ID="984732" /][br /][br /]Many animals that were left in the rush to leave survived, including Jessica Armstrong's.[br /][br /]"The reason that I left them is because the lot is dirt," she said. "And the goats, they eat everything."[br /][br /]Her goats, horses, and donkeys are all safe. And so are her friend's horses. They were moved here to escape the Rocky Fire. Now they're moving again.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/resources-valley-fire-evacuation-centers-school-closures/982676/" TARGET="" REL=""]RESOURCES: Valley Fire evacuation centers, school closure information[/url][/b][br /][br /]"Because we lost our barn and all of our tack and means and stuff to feed them, so we relocated them here," said Lower Lake resident Kinder Epperson. "And then yeah we had a fire here."[br /][br /]This team with the sheriff's department helped people truck their livestock to volunteers in Clear Lake.[br /][br /]And for those residents who did remain in the evacuation zones, they don't have any power. Right now their concern is to get gas to fuel generators and to get food.[br /][br /]The security team at Hidden Valley Lake says they've counted 60 homes that were destroyed. And that doesn't include homes outside the gated community.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/tag/valley-fire/" TARGET="" REL=""]Click here[/url] for full coverage on the Valley Fire.[/b][br /][br /][b]If you see news where you live, tag your photos and videos on [url HREF="https://twitter.com/hashtag/abc7now" TARGET="" REL=""]Twitter[/url], [url HREF="https://instagram.com/explore/tags/abc7now/" TARGET="" REL=""]Instagram[/url], or [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/abc7now" TARGET="" REL=""]Facebook[/url] with #abc7now.[/b][br /][Ads /][br /][twitter ID="643562361337548800" /][br /][twitter ID="643549949544689664" /][br /][twitter ID="643545508137426944" /][br /][twitter ID="643543774472314880" /][br /][twitter ID="643507809632559104" /][br /][twitter ID="643506599571664896" /][br /][twitter ID="643531564832432128" /][br /][twitter ID="643426554681253888" /][br /][twitter ID="643427601248182273" /][br /][twitter ID="643417839685099521" /][br /][twitter ID="643424983474028545" /][br /][twitter ID="643424430954164225" /][br /][twitter ID="643249942136406016" /][br /][twitter ID="643241696403193856" /][br /][twitter ID="643236536092356608" /][br /][twitter ID="643210976783925252" /][br /][twitter ID="643225592637210625" /][br /][twitter ID="643220769724469248" /][br /][twitter ID="643217593231237120" /][br /][twitter ID="643184645991874561" /][br /][twitter ID="643205041076072449" /][br /][twitter ID="643044675901763588" /][br /][twitter ID="642931283677437952" /][br /][twitter ID="642961682524827648" /][br /][twitter ID="643130974696443904" /][br /][twitter ID="642951360539856896" /][br /][twitter ID="643044265904336897" /][br /][twitter ID="642972420131807232" /][br /][twitter ID="642953522527408130" /][br /][twitter ID="642936729494667264" /][br /][twitter ID="642868554295963648" /][br /][twitter ID="642876172401905664" /][br /][twitter ID="642915625870856192" /][br /][twitter ID="643091579142430720" /][br /][twitter ID="643090423955623936" /][br /][twitter ID="643109421892022272" /][br /][twitter ID="643123183462158336" /][br /][twitter ID="642888700360269824" /][br /][twitter ID="642863145959096320" /][br /][twitter ID="642886346277720064" /]tagboard ID="abc7now/243287" /]