Fiery Mailboxes and Dogs in Bags: Fleeing California’s Wildfire

Nicole and Eric Montague, who lost their home in Paradise during the Camp Fire, pose for a photo with their daughter, Destiny, at an aid center for evacuees in Chico, California, on Nov. 15, 2018. Terray Sylvester/Reuters

CHICO, Calif.—Nicole Montague and her 16-year-old daughter Destiny noticed a red glow on the horizon as they drove to school in Paradise, Calif., that Thursday morning (Nov. 8). They did not think much of it as they had seen fires nearby in the past.

Since they had not heard any warnings, they shrugged it off. But within minutes mass panic broke out, said Nicole Montague, 45.