Dramatic Moment TV Station Went Off Air Amid California Fires: 'It's Unsafe to Be Here'
"It was the scariest experience of my life," one of the KRCR anchors told Inside Edition.
Local news anchors in Northern California suddenly announced they needed to abandon the studio on Thursday night — because flames were barreling towards them.
"It was the scariest experience of my life,” KRCR-TV anchor Tamara Damante told Inside Edition. “Never in a million years did we think we'd be evacuated, as a news station."
She said on-air that "it is unsafe to be here" as she was getting ready to evacuate.
Damante said flames were only a mile away when they were ordered to get out.
"We could tell this fire was just out of control, it was inching closer and closer to the station. Our [general manager] came in and asked the meteorologist what the conditions looked like and everybody decided the safest thing to do was to evacuate the station," she said.
She fled the city of Redding and drove to a hotel south of the wildfire.
When she spoke to Inside Edition Friday morning, she was still wearing the same clothes she wore on the set.
"My husband and I grabbed the essentials... the important stuff," she said, holding her dog. "[We] just feel so very lucky that we're safe and together."
Thousands of residents were also forced to flee their homes. Bumper-to-bumper traffic jammed the highways. One man posted a video on Instagram saying, "Everyone's running red lights.”
"This is like nothing I have ever experienced in my entire life,” Damante added.
Two fatalities have been confirmed: a contracted dozer operator and a Redding firefighter.
RELATED STORIES
Trending on Inside Edition

Atlanta Man Completes Epic Feat by Riding Every Operable Ride at all 12 Disney Parks in Less Than 2 Weeks
Entertainment
Aiden Fucci Gets Life in Prison for Killing of Tristyn Bailey, Florida Cheerleader Stabbed 114 Times
Crime
Taylor Schabusiness, Suspect in Meth-Fueled Murder Who Attacked Attorney in Court, Fit to Stand Trial in July
Crime
Teacher Resigns After Allegedly Taping 11-Year-Old Boy's Mouth Shut
News
Search for US Navy Sailor Who Vanished After St. Patrick's Day Ends After Officials 'Exhaust All Efforts'
News
Beloved New York School Bus Driver Crochets Thousands of Hats for Students Since Picking Up Hobby 18 Years Ago
Human Interest