As we get in the thick of smoke E2679 from Lassen/Modoc CDF unit pulls to the shoulder and the entire crew race off into the trees with hand tools and a hose line to chase the fire down after it crosses the 4 lane Interstate highway. This is one of the first and only units on the east side as the fire crossed. The only way to cross would be Hilltop Blvd to the south. Nobody anticipated it so all the units were still on the west side. The freeway is shutdown behind us.