Firefighters work to get containment line around Valley Fire

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- Firefighters on the front lines of the Valley Fire burning in Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties have a massive task ahead of them -- trying to get a containment line around the flames.

While firefighters worked on the ground, a helicopter came in with a big assist.

PHOTOS: Fire crews battle massive Valley Fire in Lake County

High atop Cobb Mountain, a house that was saved just hours earlier is now gone, thanks to the whims of the Valley Fire.

DONATIONS: How to help victims of the Valley Fire where you live

"This is a perfect example. We had this house all prepped and what's happening is there's still a lot of fire out there on the perimeter and it snuck back in and got this house," Cal Fire Batt. Chief Mike Marucci said.

As far as the eye can see, there is devastation. It's an event so big that firefighters can't possibly protect every structure but can only try to react in time to save at least some among the so many that have been destroyed so far.

Among the structures damaged was a Calpine power plant high atop a hill, now abandoned with the alarm still ringing. There's a clear sense that whoever was here had to leave in a hurry.

RESOURCES: Valley Fire evacuation centers, school closure information

Down Highway 175, a weary crew from the U.S. Forest Service kept a close eye on these flames, letting them burn the brush beneath the trees, but only to a point.

"We might be adding a little bit of fire to keep it low intensity and easy and square and manageable for us to help the natural surroundings, as well as keep the fire low intensity around some of the homes," U.S. Forest Service firefighter Tom Donavent said.

Click here for full coverage on the Valley Fire.

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PHOTOS: ABC7 News at the Valley Fire