Close Calls, Crazy Drone Footage and Fire Escapes: Top 2015 Patch Stories in Weather and Fire

By PATCH STAFF (Patch Staff)

It’s easy to get stuck seeing a huge weather event, like one of the worst snowstorms in history, from the same point of view.

So when a real estate media company flew a drone over Boston’s snow-covered landmarks like Fenway Park, Boston Common and the Charles River it offered a breathtaking view of the city not seen before.

This year was an historic one for weather in America — record snowfall in the Northeast, massive fires in California, flooding in South Carolina.

Patch was there at every event — the tragedies, the surreal images and the moments that warmed the heart (even when the weather was anything but).

Here were our top weather stories from 2015:

Incredible Drone Footage Shows Boston After 100+ Inches of Snow

A drone captured breathtaking footage of Boston after it was hit with a record-breaking snow storm.

Recent Record-Breaking Snowstorms Lead to One of Boston’s Snowiest Winters Ever

Three snow storms that buried Boston last winter broke the record for the snowiest 40-day period the city has ever seen. Incredible photos tell the story.

Valley Fire: The Final Tally

Finally fully contained, Cal Fire has an exact tally of how many homes, multi-family structures and more were lost.

Highway Through Hell: Video Shows Driver’s Escape from Valley Fire Inferno

A Lake County resident posted this harrowing video filmed as he and his wife, who was driving in another car behind him, narrowly escaped the ruthless flames from the brutal Valley Fire.

Photos and Video Of South Carolina Flooding: 9 Dead; Residents Urged Indoors

Residents were urged to stay indoors in South Carolina, where record breaking rain led to flooding, dam breaches, curfews, nine fatalities and power outages.

Motorist Got Way Too Close to EF-4 Tornado with His iPhone

If most people saw a tornado whirling by only a hundred feet away they would run for their lives, but one North Carolina man calmly captured amazing video on phone instead.

Did She Say Yes? Rare SoCal Snowstorm Prompts This Beautiful Wedding Proposal Story

When Southern California residents awoke on New Year’s Eve to the region blanketed in white from a rare snowstorm, it made for many beautiful memories and photographs. And for one local couple, it was a life-changing day.

Pug Daddy Builds Awesome Snow Maze After Chicago Blizzard of 2015

An Illinois dog owner made the best of a snowstorm for building a giant icy maze for his pug. The pup seemed to love the maze, and was videotaped frolcking through it with glee.

Chunk of Ice Falls From Sky Mysteriously Crashing Through Chicago Man’s Ceiling

A man came home to find an enormous chunk of ice had fallen with such force that it broke right through his ceiling, freaking out his cat.

Historic Annapolis Yacht Club Struck By Massive Fire

The Annapolis Yacht Club, a sprawling, historic structure that rivals the Maryland capitol building as the focal point of the city and has long been the emotional center of town for generations of sailors, burned in a three-alarm fire that sent smoke visible for miles.

Little Dog Braved 12 Days in Cold, Reunited with Owner

A Shih Tzu/maltese mix survived sub-zero temperatures for two weeks after getting lost, but was finally reunited with his owners. The pup was thin and a little worse for the wear, but was ultimately happy to be home.

10 Unbelievable Photos of the Six Feet of Snow in Massachusetts

To prove Massachusetts isn’t just crying wolf about the massive amounts of snow piled on the state – enough snow to close some schools for days and shut down the state’s transit system – Patch rounded up 10 photos that show the snow in all of its glory.

Flooding In Austin Area And Throughout Texas Cause Massive Problems

In October, as much as 20 inches of rain fell in some parts of Texas. The downpour caused devastating flooding that lead to the derailment of a freight train and multiple stranded cars.

Video Captured Of Watersprout On Long Beach Island

An incredible video captured a gigantic waterspout running across the waters of Long Beach Island.