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Doorcam Shows Man Frantically Warn Neighbors as Hillside Fire Approaches

A fast-moving fire prompted mandatory evacuation orders in the hills above San Bernardino, California, in the early hours of October 31.

Footage captured by Marcy Zavala’s doorbell camera shows a neighbor frantically knocking on her door, trying to warn the family that the fire was approaching. Zavala told Storyful her neighbor knew they had “four little kids under the age of six and that it was very crucial” to get them out.

“As soon I heard the knock I knew it was a fire”, Zavala said. “I looked outside to see how close it was to see how much time we had, and it was a lot closer then I could have imagined.” she added.

The timestamp on Zavala’s footage indicates that the neighbor began banging at her door shortly after 2 am. By 3 am, the Hillside Fire had grown to around 200 acres, the San Bernardino County Fire District said.

By late afternoon, the fire had destroyed six homes and damaged another 18, fire officials said.

“I didn’t think our house was going to make it!” Zavala told Storyful. “But the San Bernardino fighters are superheroes they saved this neighborhood!”

The following day, the fire department said crews were still working to contain the fire, but said it had not grown past 200 acres, and was at 70 percent containment. Credit: Marcy Zavala via Storyful