Matthew McDermott was driving through Schellville in Northern California when he saw the tree, with flames flaring through several gaps in the middle of the tree while smoke poured out near the tree’s top.
"I've definitely not seen anything like this before. That is nuts," McDermott told CNN. "We wanted to know the escape routes in case we needed them. The route to Paloma was open. I just stopped on the side of the road and the whole ridge is on fire."
McDermott said while he was out checking the roads he bought masks -- the smoke from the fires has turned the air toxic in the Bay Area -- and passed them out to whoever needed it, KTXL reported. He also said his parents and other relatives who live in the area are safe.
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