size overnight at the weekend. this isn't just a back country blaze. the fire threatening and burning parts of redding, california, population more than 90,000. >> this fire is scary to us. this is something we haven't seen before in the city. >> reporter: some were given only 30 minutes to evacuate, not knowing if they would ever see their homes again. >> it looked like an atomic bomb went off after the fact. we got a few pictures from friends, but it was a firestorm when we left. >> reporter: for the lister family, their worst fears realized, they lost everything. there are now scattered reports of looting in those abandoned areas and on the fire lines 17 helicopters, 300 engines and over 3,000 personnel continue to fight for control of this inferno. now, we just got the first bit of good news today, that the fire is now 20% contained. they've been working very hard