Santa Rosa resident captures aerial view of Pawnee fire in Lake County

When flying back from Seattle yesterday, Santa Rosa resident Paolo Dizon didn't expect to see plumes of smoke billowing into the sky.

But as Dizon's flight took a turn over Lake County, the impact of the Pawnee fire was easy to see - even from 35,000 feet in the air.

As of Tuesday morning, the Pawnee fire had destroyed 11,500 acres and 22 structures, with Gov. Jerry Brown declaring a state of emergency in Lake County. Firefighters had contained just 5 percent of the blaze, according to Cal Fire.

Pulling out his phone, Dizon snapped a few photos to document an aerial view of the raging wildfire, then posted them to the Santa Rosa Firestorm Update Facebook page. The Facebook community of Sonoma County fire survivors was quick to empathize with Lake County residents amid this new firestorm.

The remarkable shots show the scope of the Pawnee fire and the direction the blaze will head if winds keep up.

“I took the photos because it's the first time I've seen a wildfire from above,” Dizon said. “At the same, I wish I didn't, because it just brings back horrible memories.”

Dizon is no stranger to the sorrow a natural disaster can bring - he and his family lost their Coffey Park home last October to the Tubbs fire.

“It saddens me that we never get a break from these disasters,” Dizon said. “I know how the people currently losing their homes feel.”

With residents evacuated and 600 structures in danger, the Pawnee fire still burns on. For more information about the Pawnee fire, click here or visit the Lake County Sheriff's Office website.