Via a commenter, And Still I Persist, a blog about the California fires written by a former Marine and data specialist, with maps of the evacuation areas. The news photos at the LA Times are more dramatic than his, but the shots on this site will give you a feel for what it's like to have an out of control blaze threatening your suburban cul-de-sac, while smoke clouds out the sun.
--Garance Franke-Ruta