With hundreds of fires blazing across California, firefighters are strapped for both resources and manpower.<br />In response, residents have organized to put out flames themselves in a large swath of land burning south of San Francisco.<br />HuffPost reports the homeowners are defending their homes, despite orders to evacuate and pleas by officials to get out of danger.<br />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.<br />HuffPost reports Cal Fire Deputy Director Daniel Berlant said it can also cause problems when civilians compete for roads and water pressure.<br />We absolutely stress that everyone needs to evacuate early. These efforts, while well-intentioned, absolutely slow us down. Daniel Berlant Deputy Director, Cal Fire
