"You MUST go now!" They record how a fire devastates a historic California city

By Wilson Wong - NBC News 

A dramatic video on Wednesday captured the destruction caused by the Dixie fire, the largest now burning in California, which devastated the small historic community of Greenville, northeast of San Francisco.

The images show houses and vehicles engulfed in flames, destroyed commercial structures and collapsed buildings in this mountainous town of about 800 inhabitants.

The fire also destroyed much of the historic Californian city, leaving it completely unrecognizable.

Among the dilapidated buildings are a former sheriff's office, shops, restaurants, canteens and gas stations.

The Plumas County Sheriff's Department had issued an extreme warning to residents earlier in the day: "If you are still in the Greenville area, you are in imminent danger and you MUST leave now."

The authorities have not reported any injuries so far. 

The Dixie Fire has ravaged the area since July 14.

So far it has burned more than 278,000 acres, destroyed at least 45 structures, and is only 35% contained.

It is the eighth largest wildfire in California history, according to the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

This year's extreme heat has helped fuel fires across the western United States.

Experts note that the climate emergency is exacerbating wildfire conditions.

California experienced one of its worst wildfire seasons in history in 2020, which included four of the five largest fires in the state for as long as there are reliable records.