Update on California Wildfires

[HARDCORE]

On Monday, we were without power. We drove down the mountain into San Diego yesterday and it was so smokey that you could hardly breathe. Our oldest son lives in Ramona and had to evacuate and our middle son lives in San Diego. Here in the mountains, we still have heavy winds but not as strong as Monday.

Rick ______________________________________

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont...4mainfire.html

Help from above

The toll: 500,000 evacuated; 300,000 acres charred; 1,300 buildings destroyed;
The front lines: Air fleet grows; ground reinforcements arrive; weather eases

By Jeff McDonald
and Anne Krueger
STAFF WRITERS

October 24, 2007

Reinforcements swooped into San Diego County by air and ground yesterday, infusing new energy into battles against a deadly firestorm that has compelled the largest evacuation in state history.

More-favorable winds permitted giant air tankers to enter the fray for the first time. They joined a fleet of helicopters in fighting four major wildfires that continued to burn out of control.

Additional crews from several states joined the effort in San Diego County. By sunset, more than 3,200 firefighters were in action.

Ron Lane, operations director for the county Office of Emergency Services, welcomed the fresh resources after days of strained staffing. “The worst is behind us,” he said.

But no one was declaring victory.

At least a half-million people have been forced from their homes. That's roughly one in every six county residents scattered in shelters, hotels and spare rooms of friends and relatives.

Nearly 1,300 houses and other structures have been razed as flames have charred about 300,000 acres since Sunday. The property tally is expected to climb.

Officials reported four fire-related deaths in addition to the man killed Sunday while defending his home in Potrero.

Three people in their 90s died after being evacuated. A 62-year-old woman was killed after falling at a restaurant Monday. She had just fled her home in Rancho Bernardo.

Countywide, hospitals have treated almost 100 people for burns, cuts, smoke inhalation and other health problems linked to the fires. That includes 27 firefighters, three of whom remain in critical condition at the UCSD Medical Center's burn unit.

Many more people sought medical help at shelters. About a dozen clinics have closed countywide, along with an untold number of doctors' offices.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who met with evacuees at Qualcomm Stadium yesterday, said the crisis resembled the magnitude of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. But he said federal officials anticipated the wildfires better than they did the storm.

“There's no question that there were a couple lessons from Katrina that we have put into effect here,” Chertoff said.

President Bush designated San Diego County and six other counties in Southern California as federal disaster areas early yesterday, making them eligible for emergency funding. He is scheduled to tour San Diego County tomorrow.

While firefighters gained an upper hand on a few fronts yesterday, new blazes erupted in other areas of the county. The nightmarish wildfires of 2003 were relived by residents in portions of Julian and Harbison Canyon, who have been urged to evacuate.

Valley Center, Del Dios and Palomar Mountain were the latest communities to become engulfed in flames. By midday, eight brush fires raged in the region as the tally of broken lives and homes mushroomed.

One of the most serious new threats was dubbed the Poomacha fire, which erupted on the southern slope of Palomar Mountain yesterday morning. About 20,000 acres had burned as of last night.

For years, disaster officials have worried that the mountain was particularly vulnerable to wildfires because it is pocked with thousands of dead and dying trees.

More than 50 homes and trailers and a landmark Catholic church burned on the Rincon Indian Reservation near Valley Center as the Poomacha fire expanded.

“You could have had every unit in the whole county, they couldn't have done anything,” said Bo Mazzetti, a Rincon tribal councilman. “The devil wind came through. Nobody could stop it.”

Rong Yao Ma, 58, a cook at Harrah's Rincon Casino, jumped from the window of his second-floor apartment after seeing flames and smoke at 5:30 a.m. He landed on concrete and tried to get up, but he had broken his hip.
He crawled across a mile of dirt until he reached the highway, smoke and hot wind blasting his face.

“For a moment, I didn't know anything,” he said from his bed at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido.

About 20 people sought refuge from the Poomacha fire at the Palomar Observatory. “That's probably the safest spot in the whole mountain,” spokesman Scott Kardel said.

In the greater Fallbrook area, the Rice Canyon fire ballooned to 7,500 acres. It was 10 percent contained last night but had destroyed more than 200 houses and charred about 20,000 avocado trees.

The Rice Canyon firefighters caught somewhat of a break thanks to lighter winds. But weather forecasters predicted that Santa Ana gusts wouldn't die out until tomorrow.

“Normally after two to three days the winds break,” said Rick Hutchinson, a deputy commander for the Witch Creek blaze. Not this time, he added.

Again yesterday, fire officials were most concerned with Witch Creek, which jumped the San Dieguito River and raced into Fairbanks Ranch after decimating about three dozen estates in Rancho Santa Fe.

“I came up and there was a wall of smoke,” said Val Popescu, who was back in Rancho Santa Fe yesterday to check on his Zumaque Street home. “Everything around my house burned.”

Other fortunate residents included those in Scripps Ranch, who were allowed to return to their homes.

Residents of the Del Dios enclave near Lake Hodges were not so fortunate.

Up to 100 fire trucks arrived within minutes to defend the community after one finger of the Witch Creek fire began pointing to the south. Nevertheless, flames consumed dozens of homes.

By last night, the Witch Creek fire had burned nearly 197,000 acres and destroyed at least 480 homes, businesses and outbuildings. It was listed as 1 percent contained.

Thousands of homes in East County still are threatened by the Harris fire, which started Sunday morning near Potrero before cutting a swath just east of heavily populated Chula Vista.

A man was killed in the first hours of the Harris blaze before it spread quickly to the west. Thousands of people in suburban neighborhoods in eastern Chula Vista were ordered out yesterday, but favorable weather conditions allowed firefighters to make measured progress.

Evacuation orders were lifted for Sunnyside and San Miguel Ranch, but remained in effect for much of Jamul, the state Route 67 corridor north of Lakeside and Rancho San Diego.

Despite the evacuation order, Wilfredo Radoc was hosing down his white stucco home in San Miguel Ranch yesterday morning.

“I want to protect my house,” said Radoc, a senior cook for the George F. Bailey Detention Center in San Diego. “I worked too hard for this. I'm prepared to die in my house.”

Tony DeSantiago of Spring Valley was among hundreds of people who stood along Jamacha Boulevard to watch the flames creep north from Mount San Miguel.

“I can't help but feel that the majority of resources are in North County,” he said. “I understand property values are higher there, but people in this part of the county work just as hard for what they have.”

Calmer winds and water drops by military helicopters helped push the Harris fire away from the northeastern corner of Sweetwater Reservoir, sparing the Rancho San Diego and Spring Valley communities.

“They took the heart out of this one,” Augie Ghio, chief of the San Miguel Fire District, said of the helicopters.

As smoke and flames rose from nearby mountains, nearly 600 people at Steele Canyon High School followed the advice of firefighters and made the campus a “shelter in place.” That meant the evacuees would stay put, because the school has a wide safety perimeter.

Most schools and universities across the county will remain closed for the rest of this week. Some government services also are being rescheduled or put off due to the fires.

Officials at every level of government continued to pledge unprecedented help for San Diego County and other fire-ravaged areas of California.

Schwarzenegger toured the evacuation center at Qualcomm Stadium for the second day in a row. He announced a hangar full of additional firefighting equipment was on the way: two air tankers, two DC-7 airplanes and 10 helicopters, among them.

The White House produced a list of people and supplies destined for Southern California, including 1,200 federal firefighters; more than 100 engines; two dozen aircraft, including six giant C-130 transport planes; and 1,600 National Guard personnel.

Meanwhile, the Air Force plans to deploy high-altitude drones as soon as today to more accurately map the runaway fires.

Equipped with specialized radars and other sensors, the jet will fly at 60,000 feet continuously for at least 24 hours and transmit data to a ground crew. The crew will relay images to an Internet site used by fire officials.

The resolution of the images is good enough to “pick out a hot twig that's the size of a matchstick,” said Ed Walby, a Northrop Grumman executive who works on the company's San Diego-based Global Hawk program.

All the crises strained the region's power grid, prompting utility officials to plead with residents to turn off air conditioners and minimize electricity use. In previous days, health officials had encouraged people to run on their AC units to lessen indoor respiratory strain.

Damage from the fires and the shutdown of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station forced San Diego Gas & Electric to rely almost entirely on local generators to keep the lights on and refrigerators humming.

More than 33,000 homes and businesses remained without power last night.

[David]

Most of my family has evacuated to my sisters house.

[DMZ-LT]

For the 3rd day my daughter is home bound with the windows closed to keep out the smoke. She seems pretty confident they will be OK but has an escape plan in effect. They bought garden hoses to keep the place wet. Have asked Frank , Tiny and Andy to watch over her

[reconeil]

Rick & All Others,

The number reported here on The East Coast of 880,000 displaced Californians aside, your sufferings got me thinking of my visiting a cousin there and after a barbecue in September, a few years ago.

Asked Cuz if he wanted me to bring in the charcoal that night?
To which he answered: "Don't bother". "Won't rain until November".

That and this morning hearing commentator Michael Reagan being interviewed, realing got me thinking about your yearly and always to be expected tragedies. Even though the interview was quite lengthy, one little short comment explained much & said it all BEST for me.

Reagan, a lifelong resident of California basically stated: "You can't save The Spotted Owl & such, and not expect Vast Wild Fires occuring each and every year". Ironically, what's great for owls often proves deadly & costly for BOTH owls & humans alike.

Miles upon miles of never cleaned out dry brush or dry kindling is absolutely perfect for starting, fueling & spreading fires,...whether started by dry lightning, static electricity or even sick-o arsonists. The ever present Santa Ana Winds are even more helpful for the spreading of fires vast distances.

Basically, if people must live amongst woods or forests of California (elsewhere also), would suggest municipaties make sure their locales are cleared of brush, have adequate fire breaks, and are as wide open as municipal parks safe enough for children.

DON'T,...and same typically terrible & devastating Yearly Wildfires should never surprise ANYONE, and/or The Homeowner, The U.S. Taxpayer & The Insurance Companies.

Whatever, Folks. Wish you all The Very Best, Good Luck and A Good Rain.

Neil

[HARDCORE]

Friend Neil et al

"EASIER SAID THEN DONE!" This monster fire has jumped entire freeways, all eight lanes plus the center divider in many places.

As far as forest is concern, this place [Cleveland National Forest] is a forest in name only. It is full of sage brush, dry vegetation, and all of the other elements of disaster. Keeping it clean of same is damn near impossible.

As far as the politicians, ah yes, there in lies the rub! Photo ops, half ass measures and self-deification alone would not stop even the smallest of fires. IF these people really are concerned with fire safety, they would do what has to be done without the ever present media, the drums, the bugles and the chest-thumping. Remember, when they leave here to go back home, those who are burned out are still burned out!

These political types in my opinion, are pure, self-deifying excrement. As I was told several times by prominent political types, if you don't agree with their party, their agenda, and their ass-kissing friends, you are toast. Now I ask you, does that sound like anything that is out for the betterment of all of the people, regardless of party, just so long as they are honor Americans?

All of the bull-shit in the world, couple with fine attire, titles, and media exposure can not turn a sow's ear into a silk purse. Those, however, who do what is right just for the sake that it is right, to those people I take my hat off.

[HARDCORE]

Witch Fire - 200,000 Acres
1% Contained
12 Firefighters Hurt
645 Homes destroyed
_________________________
Harris Fire -- 73,000 Acres
10% contained
7 People Hurt
_________________________
Rice Fire --- 7500 Acres
200 homes destroyed
10% contained
__________________________
Horno Fire -- Camp Pendleton
3000 Acres
10% contained
________________________________________
As a sidebar - Giant Qualcomm Stadium is being use a an evacuation center. This is the stadium where the Chargers play and with Immigration Showed up today [as per ABC - KGTV] a mad run took place with people trying to get out of the stadium quick. Gee, I wonder what that tells you.

[Boats]

HC - NasaTV is currently showing the fires from Space. Some look as large as the state of Delware. Are they making any headway. Guess you guys will be planting plent of trees to replace those that were burnt.
Smoke polluition has got to be a big factor for those with weak lungs.

Are you still safe of the fires?

[reconeil]

Rick,
Never said nor even implied for a second that INSTEAD doing what wise & sensible regarding the loss of thousands of homes to fire Yearly in Suburban California, WOULD BE EASY.

Still, I believe that the major & overall brush clean-up suggested would be INFINITELY: "EASIER", Less costly and More Protective of Homes, than the typically disasterous and year after year or perpetual status quo. Firemen can't do the impossible.

Also, do not believe that California's Fires could even jump: "8 lane freeways",...if didn't have just ANOTHER fuel laden Tinder Box to jump to, anyway.

And besides Old Buddy, isn't it normally better & cheaper to maintain & safeguard valued properties, than take the standard and/or about 50/50 California Chance...that ones Home might have to be TOTALLY replaced the following year?

Regardless, and as far as I'm concerned, it's just plain foolish not removing brush (no matter how much, old or thick) from all wooded communities. Given the Vast $um$ plus never to be replaced valuables lost to such innevitable yearly occurrences, I believe that the magnitude of clean-ups needed WOULD BE MUCH CHEAPER & MUCH MORE REASSURING.

Plus, don't have the slightest doubt whatsoever that what suggested WOULD EVEN WORK MUCH BETTER, than as currently or as is now and repeated year after year after year.

Neil

[HARDCORE]

We are safe and still kicking. Last nite we thought that we might have to
evacuate as they were calling for a voluntary evacuation. We started packing
our car with important papers and pictures. It was very smoking here at the
3200 Foot Level in the Cleveland National Forest yesterday. As of this
writing, it is clear outside. One son we think might have been burned out
but haven't heard yet. The other one was in the middle of the smoke in San
Diego and he sent his family to the coast. The youngest son was safe as he
is at university in Arizona. Rick & Brenda Tavares
________________________________________________
http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/200...ire-facts.html
San Diego County Wildfires 2007
Breaking news from SignOnSanDiego and The San Diego Union-Tribune


Thursday, October 25, 2007
New map, latest fire facts
Posted @ 11:36 PM
County and fire officials have released an updated version of the fire map.
The bad news: The fires aren't out yet. The good news: The red areas showing
the active fires are much smaller than they were before, and the areas being
reopened are growing.
Here's the latest breaking news overview story on the fires. You'll find a
lot more stories listed on SignOn's homepage.

Also, here's the U-T's latest list of facts on the county's major fires:

HARRIS FIRE


a.. Time started: 9:23 a.m. 10/21
b.. Acreage: 84,000 acres
c.. Containment: 20 percent
d.. Containment expected: Oct.31
e.. Cost: $2.5 million
f.. Injuries: Seven firefighters, 21 civilians
g.. Deaths: 5 during the fire, including 4 badly burned bodies found
Thursday a canyon near state Route 94 and Highway 188 just west of Potrero;
3 deaths related to evacuations
h.. Firefighters: 1,341 firefighters
i.. Engines: 45, three dozers, 20 water tenders
j.. Air resources: two helicopters, two helitankers, three airtankers
k.. Area: Fire is burning near Lyons Valley Road and the Hauser wilderness
area. (5 p.m. Oct.25 ) Moving to the northeast toward Lyons Valley Road,
east of Jamul. Barrett Lake and areas northwest of there also are areas of
concern. (Oct. 25 9:13 a.m.) Active structure protection in Lyons Valley
l.. Evacuations: The communities of Lawson Valley and Carveacre have been
ordered to evacuate. Residents evacuated from Potrero and Tecate as a result
of the Harris Fire were allowed to return home. Areas under evacuation order
are Barrett Junction, Engineer Springs, Dulzura, Deerhorn Springs, Indian
Springs, Jamul, North Jamul. Evacuation order also in place for Tecate
Border Crossing. Evacuations lifted from the Point in Spring Valley, Otay
Lakes Road to Pio Pico Thousand Trails.
m.. Cause: unknown
n.. Structures destroyed: 97 homes, 2 commercial buildings, 17
outbuildings
o.. Structures damaged: 250
p.. Structures threatened: 1,500

WITCH CREEK FIRE


a.. Time started: 12:35 p.m. 10/21 in community of Witch Creek on state
Route 78
b.. Acreage: 198,000
c.. Containment: 30 percent
d.. Area: The fire is not burning, but there are smoldering spots in the
fire area. Communities include Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, parts of southern
Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Del Dios, Poway, Ramona, Lakeside, San Marcos,
Rincon and Wildcat Canyon
e.. Containment expected: Oct. 31
f.. Cost: $5.3 million
g.. Homes burned: 1,061 homes, 175 outbuilding and 239 automobiles
destroyed. 62 residences damaged
h.. Injuries: 22 firefighters
i.. Deaths: The charred remains of a couple was discovered Wednesday in a
burned home on Highland Valley Road in unincorporated Poway. Preliminary
identification as married couple John C. Bain and Victoria Fox. Two people
died while being evacuated
j.. Firefighters: 2,883
k.. Engines: 89, 71 water tenders, 16 dozers
l.. Air resources: none or not available
m.. Neighborhoods evacuated: Evacuation order lifted for North Rancho
Bernardo, all of Escondido, all parts of 4S Ranch and Rancho Santa Fe and
the surrounding area except for Del Dios Highway and the community of Del
Dios, Highway 67 corridor from Ramona to Lakeside 4S Ranch, Rancho San
Diego, Pine Hills Road and Wynola Road in Julian. San Pasqual Valley,
Ramona, parts of Poway, High Valley, Bridlewood Country Estates, Stoneridge,
Heritage, Old Coach, Old Winery, Witch Creek area, Old Julian Highway, and
the north east side of the San Diego Country Estates, San Marcos, Valley
Center. Also: Highland Valley, San Diego: Rancho Bernardo, Rancho
Penasquitos, Wild Animal Park; Mt. Woodson development in west Ramona;
Escondido, Lakeside, Barona Indian Reservation, Rancho Santa Fe; Alpine,
Crest, Harbison Canyon
n.. Evacuation Centers: Valley Center High School, Borrego Springs High
School, Poway Community Center, Mira Mesa High School
o.. Cause: under investigation

RICE CANYON FIRE

a.. Time started: 4:16 a.m. on 10/22 in Rice Canyon
b.. Acreage: 9,500
c.. Containment: 40 percent
d.. Containment expected: Oct 28
e.. Cost: $1.3 million
f.. Homes burned: 206 homes, including 120 mobile homes; two commercial
buildings and 40 outbuildings destroyed
g.. Injuries: 1 firefighter, minor injury
h.. Deaths: 1 evacuation death
i.. Firefighters: 1,073 firefighters
j.. Engines: 35, 17 water tenders, 8 dozers
k.. Air resources: 6 helicopters
l.. Area: Fire is not burning, but there are smoldering hot spots in
DeLuz, Fallbrook, Rainbow and Bonsall
m.. Neighborhoods evacuated: Evacuation order lifted for residents of
southwest Fallbrook, but rest of community still under evacuation order
n.. Cause: Downed power lines
POOMACHA FIRE (Merged with Witch Canyon fire)

a.. Time started: 3:13 a.m. on 10/23 in area of La Jolla Indian
Reservation
b.. Acreage: 38,500
c.. Containment: 30 percent
d.. Containment expected: Oct. 29
e.. Cost: $950,000
f.. Homes burned: 60
g.. Injuries: Twelve firefighters, four civilians
h.. Deaths: none
i.. Firefighters: 1,406
j.. Engines: 43, 16 bulldozers, 21 water tenders
k.. Air resources: 6 helicopters, 1 helitanker, 10 airtankers
l.. Area: Fire is burning on Palomar Mountain.
m.. Neighborhoods evacuated: La Jolla Indian Reservation, All of Palomar
Mountain. Mandatory evacuation of Lake Henshaw, Mesa Grande, and La Jolla
Indian Reservation. Evacuation order partially lifted for Valley Center. The
following areas will remain closed: Paradise Mountain/Skyline Ranch; Palomar
Mountain; the Highway 76 corridor from the Pala area to Highway 79; the
Rincon, Pala, La Jolla, Pauma and San Pasqual Reservations; the Lake
Wohlford area. Communities include Valley Center, Mount Palomar, Pauma
Valley and the Pauma and Rincon Indian reservations.
n.. Cause: House fire, under investigation.
HORNO FIRE


a.. First reported: 1:15 p.m. 9:19 a.m. Tuesday
b.. Acres burned: 17,000
c.. Containment: 50 percent
d.. Structures burned: none
e.. Resources: Information not available
f.. Deaths: none
g.. Injuries: none
Area: Camp Pendleton, east of Interstate 5 and north and west between Las
Pulgas Road and Border Patrol checkpoint
h.. Cause: Under investigation

[MORTARDUDE]

Just curious...

with all the fires, earthquakes, and mudslides out there, is homeowner's insurance very expensive ? Is it hard to get in the areas that are burned out ? Thanks.

Larry