Transcript for At least 370 structures razed as agencies rally to fight California wildfires
the toll is truly unimaginable. The death toll is rising tonight, more than 30 dead in these fires. More than 200 people are still unaccounted for. They are hoping many of them are simply having difficulty getting through to loved ones amid the chaos and the devastation here. And look at this tonight. Right behind me, one of the thousands of homes here in California gone, burned to the ground. You can see nothing left remains. Just the frame of the garage here, but really nothing but ash. Gio Benitez and our team on the highway with so many other drivers suddenly witnessing the flames, shooting right beside them today. Helicopters racing in, and not a moment too soon. And the wind driving the flames with the force of a tornado. This fire-nado, as they call it, along the pacific coast highway. Flames burning homes on the hill tops there. This time lapse of the mountain on fire, seen from the beach in malibu. People escaping through walls of flames, nearly a quarter million are under mandatory evacuation orders tonight. And, of course, weary firefighters battling from the ground and from the air. There are new fires erupting and we begin tonight with that moment on the highway, not far from where we’re reporting. ABC’s gio Benitez leading us off. Reporter: Flames creeping up alongside this busy highway in Simi Valley as a helicopter swoops in. That county ship is going to try to lay down some water along the freeway. This seems to be the hot spot right there. Reporter: Three different agencies fighting this new fire from the sky. We’re in highway 118 in the simi Valley. And just look at all of the smoke here. Authorities are trying to put this fire out. Right now, you can see that helicopter. There is a neighborhood, a neighborhood right underneath here. The area where we’re standing, doused with water. Firefighters here desperately trying to stop the wall of flames before they reach nearby neighborhoods northwest of los Angeles. There’s been a flareup right here. Reporter: The dramatic explosion of this new peak fire, one of two major flareups today, shows how quickly neighborhoods can be threatened. Oh, my god. Oh, my god. Reporter: This the scene over the weekend in malibu. Many narrowly escaping down those streets lined with fire. Please help me, please help me. Reporter: Rebecca Hackett emerging from this tunnel in malibu to hot embers pelting her windshield before driving to safety. Please, dear god, let me get out of this. Please, please. Reporter: Megan Weddle documenting the drive through an apocalyptic hellscape to get to her daughter. Oh, my god. I don’t know what to do. Reporter: Much of her neighborhood is gone, but she’s heard her house is okay. We spoke with her today about the ordeal. What’s going through your heard right now? Let me make it to my kids. I wanted to make sure that I got safe and got to be with my family. Reporter: But over the weekend, officials with the grim news. Two people found dead in a driveway in the burn area. And tonight, a glimpse at the destruction. A melted van. A home with only a fireplace left standing. At least 370 homes destroyed so far. And David, that new fire we saw today first-hand, well, firefighters are now getting that under control. But the danger is not over, because when these winds pick up, these fires spark up fast and, as you can see right here, they are unpredictable and unforgiving. David?
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
