---
title: "Deputy’s Dash Cam Video From the California Wildfires Is Like Riding Through Hell"
description: "Apocalyptic footage from inside the inferno."
date: "2017-10-11"
modified: "2017-10-12"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/15065/deputys-dash-cam-video-from-the-california-wildfires-is-like-riding-through-hell"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Watch This"
tags:
  - "California"
  - "Dash Cam"
  - "fire"
  - "police"
  - "rescue"
  - "Sonoma"
  - "wildfire"
---

# Deputy’s Dash Cam Video From the California Wildfires Is Like Riding Through Hell

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/10/sonoma-fire.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

The [raging wildfires](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/14979/californias-sonoma-raceway-threatened-by-wildfires>) that have consumed more than 150,000 acres of northern California this week continue to blaze through the region's famous wine country almost unabated. As evacuations continue and authorities struggle to assess the damage, a dramatic dash cam video posted to Facebook by the [Sonoma County Sheriff's Office](<https://www.facebook.com/sonoma.sheriff/>) shows the hellish conditions rescue workers are facing as they continue to raise the alarm and get survivors out of the burn zone.

At least 21 people have died in the fires, but that total would be much higher were it not for the tireless efforts of first responders to get people [out of the path](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/12046/man-saves-his-1961-chevy-corvette-from-fast-moving-california-wildfire>) of the flames. This means traveling through some truly life-threatening conditions to try and help anyone who can't help themselves. According to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, this insane video was taken by a deputy as he drove down the area's Franz Valley Road "at the onset of the fire's entrance to Sonoma County."

The terrifying video [is eerily similar to others shot](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/6236/driving-through-a-tennessee-wildfire-looks-like-hell-on-earth>) by authorities and evacuees in other recent wildfires. The narrow, winding road cuts through an inferno of flaming trees and buildings, burning embers swirl angrily like a demonic blizzard, and the cruiser's emergency lights turn the shrouds of smoke red and blue in a truly surreal sight.

So far, thousands of businesses and homes—including entire neighborhoods in the city of Santa Rosa—have gone up in flames, and many more will likely suffer the same fate before firefighters can contain the blazes. This video is a stark reminder of the danger emergency workers face day in and day out as they continue the fight.

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)