With hundreds of fires blazing across California, firefighters are strapped for both resources and manpower.
In response, residents have organized to put out flames themselves in a large swath of land burning south of San Francisco.
HuffPost reports the homeowners are defending their homes, despite orders to evacuate and pleas by officials to get out of danger.
But CalFires has repeatedly warned that it’s not safe. In fact, it's actually illegal to go into evacuated areas, and they can hinder official efforts to stop the flames.
HuffPost reports Cal Fire Deputy Director Daniel Berlant said it can also cause problems when civilians compete for roads and water pressure.
We absolutely stress that everyone needs to evacuate early. These efforts, while well-intentioned, absolutely slow us down. Daniel Berlant Deputy Director, Cal Fire
