This must be what it's like to drive through hell

Amid California Wkildfires, Escapes and Choices.  (The New York Times, 9/14/2015)

The blaze that began in Lake County, called the Valley Fire, has burned across 62,000 acres, and was only 10 percent contained. In Middletown, most of downtown — including a new arts center and Noble’s Saloon — survived untouched, but entire residential blocks were heaps of ash. Grape fields were scorched black. A scrim of smoke continued to rise from the tinder-dry mountains that ring the town.

Middletown is located in Lake County.