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By Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator

SONOMA, Calif. -- Scott Simpson couldn't escape the unpredictable fires that have ravaged portions of Southern California.

Scott Simpson was one of thousands forced to evacuate their homes because of the California wildfires. (Ehrmann/WireImage)

After flying home from the AT&T Championship on Sunday night, Simpson was supposed to drive up to the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Sonoma, Calif., on Monday. Instead, he was forced to evacuate his house in Poway, Calif., near San Diego, when the Witch fire came within a quarter mile of his family's bearings.

With "the winds howling at least 40 miles per hour and trees down," he decided to drive down his street to determine the proximity of the fire when a policeman gave him the news -- the fire was getting closer and everyone had to get out.

Two hours later, after relocating to his sister-in-law's place, they got the same news -- everyone had to leave again.

"Then we drove to my brother's house in L.A., a two-hour drive that took five hours because Interstate 5 was a parking lot," said Simpson, a University of Southern California grad who amassed seven victories -- including the 1987 U.S. Open -- while on the PGA TOUR.

The trip brought dangers other than panicked drivers as fires were visible from the highway while Simpson made the trek up to L.A. Thankfully he avoided any more fire encounters and also avoided damage to his own house. Others, however, may not be so lucky.

"They can't get back in yet but there are a lot of people in Poway who've lost their homes," Simpson said, who earned his lone Champions Tour victory at the 2006 Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach. "I heard [San Diego Chargers running back] LaDainian Tomlinson had to evacuate."