Hey Roger,
Been there, done that. For some national magazines, I covered the East Bay Fire back in 1990. Amazing what mass destruction occurred. Also,we took photos for publications...saw what it did close up to property, people and their pets, and the Oakland Hills environment. Plus, when I lived in San Carlos, CA, my dog alerted me to a nearby fire. Arson played a role in an abandoned house behind my bungalow. The fire dept. folks came to my home and said, "You may have to evacuate." Makes you think what you'll take in a moment's notice. Also, in Tahoe we've had our share of forest fires, too. If I had my choice, I'd rather do earthquakes...
Cal