Raging wildfires selective in destroying homes in Wash.

(NECN/NBC News: Elisa Hahn) - In Washington State, a raging wildfire has destroyed some homes, while leaving others untouched.

Families are driving along roads surrounded by charred brush to see if they still have a place to live.

Some are finding their homes seem to have miraculously survived.

"The worst I felt is when I was down on the highway watching the flames. That's when it impacted me, I knew it was it.”

Early this morning when the skies were still dark, Doug Derooy had the same view our camera had as fire devoured the hillside around his home.

His sister called him to offer her condolences.

"I had to call her back this morning and say, ‘I'm calling from my house and it's still here, ya,’ She was flabbergasted.”

"I couldn't believe, from one end of the ridge to the other it was all fire and it was working its way down.

Down the road, Patty Holmes' vacation house is also still standing. The charred land nearby a stark reminder to how close they came to losing it.

"and I thought it's gone. But you know what? God gave it to us and we've enjoyed it so much, and what i was so concerned about was the neighbors that live here and their home."

No such luck for their next door neighbors. Their home one of at least 60 destroyed so far in the Taylor bridge fire.

This is how selective the fire was. This car made it. But over here this one didn't. Then take a look at this, the fire was so hot that it melted the rim off the wheel of the car and it's still warm to the touch.

Evacuated residents of the sunlight water development anxiously watched as the fight to save their homes unfolds.

"When that smoke goes from white to black you know it's hitting structure."

But they have no idea if the structure is theirs.

Around the clock, the firefighters keep working to save lives and save homes.

And while dozens are lost, many more are saved.

"They worked on our behalf, they put their own lives second. That was very obvious."