The Weather Channel's new wildfire animation is terrifying and beautiful

Stephanie Abrams in a wildfire mixed reality animation for The Weather Channel.

Stephanie Abrams in a wildfire mixed reality animation for The Weather Channel.
Photo: The Weather Channel
Stephanie Abrams in a wildfire mixed reality animation for The Weather Channel.

Stephanie Abrams in a wildfire mixed reality animation for The Weather Channel.
Photo: The Weather Channel
Tips for protecting yourself in a wildfire.

Tips for protecting yourself in a wildfire.
Photo: Fred Larson/The Chronicle
Photo: Paul Kitagaki Jr., Associated Press
If you haven't been ordered to evacuate, there are a few steps you can take inside your home to protect yourself during a wildfire.

If you haven't been ordered to evacuate, there are a few steps you can take inside your home to protect yourself during a wildfire.
Photo: Andreas-Joachim Lins / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm
The first thing to do from the inside is to close everything — windows, doors, vents, blinds, and drapes.

The first thing to do from the inside is to close everything — windows, doors, vents, blinds, and drapes.
Photo: Enrique Monterrubio / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm
Move any flammable furniture into the center of the home, away from sliding glass doors or windows.

Move any flammable furniture into the center of the home, away from sliding glass doors or windows.
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Shut off gas at the meter. Turn off pilot lights.

Shut off gas at the meter. Turn off pilot lights.
Photo: Vstock LLC/Getty Images/Tetra Images RF
Make sure at least one light in each room is turned on. This will help firefighters with visibility in case of heavy smoke.

Make sure at least one light in each room is turned on. This will help firefighters with visibility in case of heavy smoke.
Photo: Getty Images
The first thing you can do outside to protect your home and yourself during a wildfire is cover your attic or ground vents with commercial seals, or plywood.

The first thing you can do outside to protect your home and yourself during a wildfire is cover your attic or ground vents with commercial seals, or plywood.
Photo: Mark Wilson, Getty Images
Move your patio furniture inside.

Move your patio furniture inside.
Photo: Turner Forte/Getty Images
Connect your garden hose to outside taps.

Connect your garden hose to outside taps.
Photo: Fred Larson, The Chronicle
If you can, set up a gasoline-powered pump.

If you can, set up a gasoline-powered pump.
Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press
Placing lawn sprinklers on your roof, and wetting your roof, will also help protect your home in case of a wildfire.

Placing lawn sprinklers on your roof, and wetting your roof, will also help protect your home in case of a wildfire.
Photo: TRACY HOBSON LEHMANN /SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately. Keep an eye on your animals. Make sure you're wearing protective clothing and footwear to keep yourself safe from flying ashes and sparks.

If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately. Keep an eye on your animals. Make sure you're wearing protective clothing and footwear to keep yourself safe from flying ashes and sparks.
Photo: Katharine Lotze, Associated Press
Make sure you have all your emergency supplies, which should include a N95 respirator mask. This will filter out dangerous particles in the air. Do not rely on regular dust masks.

Make sure you have all your emergency supplies, which should include a N95 respirator mask. This will filter out dangerous particles in the air. Do not rely on regular dust masks.
Photo: Paul Kitagaki Jr., Associated Press
If you are advised to stay indoors, close all your windows and run the air conditioner. If it is too hot to stay inside, seek other shelter.

If you are advised to stay indoors, close all your windows and run the air conditioner. If it is too hot to stay inside, seek other shelter.
Photo: Jae C. Hong, STF

Photo: The Weather Channel

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Stephanie Abrams in a wildfire mixed reality animation for The Weather Channel.

Photo: The Weather Channel

If the very thought of a fast-moving wildfire consuming your entire neighborhood and everything you own isn't enough to get your blood pressure up, the Weather Channel has a sleek new animation for you.

Building on its much-heralded flood animation, which served to educate viewers of the real dangers of floodwaters, the cable channel has now turned to California wildfires.

Meteorologist Stephanie Abrams appears in the segment standing in what appears to be a high mountain forest clearing, but flames quickly engulf the scene.

"Often it's a stray ember from an unattended fire or a tossed cigarette that can ignite a firestorm," Abrams says as flames explode around her and an unsuspecting 10-point buck.

The camera angle zooms out to show the fire spreading rapidly over a mountain toward downtown Los Angeles as Abrams describes how and why wildfires can move so quickly under specific conditions, emphasizing the need for residents to take evacuation orders seriously.

The Weather Channel is using Unreal Engine, software developed for creating highly-realistic video games, to bring the animations to viewers. It's the same software used by the creators of the blockbuster game Fortnite, and many others.

"If you live in a wildfire-prone area, make sure you and your family have a plan of action. Residents could have a few hours to only a few minutes to escape to safety," Abrams says.

This is something we have heard before, but it's certainly an eyeopener — maybe a lifesaving one.

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