Periscope video from ferocious Valley Fire

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. (KABC) -- Dramatic cellphone video shows flames ripping through homes in Middletown in Northern California.

Retired firefighter, now fire photographer Tod Sudmeier used Periscope to live stream the so-called Valley Fire as it raged through the small community, torching some houses and sparing others.

"There was a very strong wind and a lot of heat and a lot of fire just about in any direction you wanted to look," he said.

Sudmeier describes firefighters racing around, trying to save homes. Most residents had already been evacuated.

"There were power lines down around so it was dark so, you know, we wouldn't have seen other vehicles driving around, and it was literally like a ghost town," he said.

Sudmeier, who's seen countless fires in his career, calls the Valley Fire one of the top three worse he's ever seen. He says the speed at which the flames grew and engulfed the area was incredible.

Watch Greg Lee's report in the video above.