Weds Update

San Diego Firestorm October 2007It looks like SignOn San Diego has worked out the issues with there server because they haven’t crashed in awhile — here are some links on their site that might be of interest:

Fire Updates in San Diego County

  • Witch Fire: Approximately 196,420 acres in northern San Diego County from Witch Creek to Rancho Santa Fe. One percent contained; 500 homes, 100 businesses and 50 outbuildings destroyed; 375 other structures damaged, including 250 homes and 75 businesses. Two civilians and 12 firefighters injured.
  • Harris Fire: Approximately 72,000 acres 70 miles southeast of San Diego north of the border town of Tecate. 10 percent contained; 200 homes destroyed; 2,000 homes and 500 commercial properties threatened. One civilian killed, 21civilians and five firefighters injured. (note about 800 firefighters are fighting this fire>
  • Rice Fire: At least 7,500 acres in Fallbrook in northern San Diego County. 10 percent containment; 206 homes and 2 commercial properties destroyed. One firefighter injured.
  • Poomacha Fire: 20,000 acres on the La Jolla Indian Reservation and in northeastern San Diego County. No containment; 50 homes destroyed and 2,000 homes threatened. Ten firefighters injured.
  • Camp Pendleton Fire: 6,000 acres on the Marine base north of San Diego. 10 percent contained.
  • Reference: Associated Press

Interview with Capt. Scott McLean on CNN

Capt. Scott McLean is interviewed on CNN and is asked about the wind since it is calm, he said, “It is difficult to predict the wind — it looks good now but can change anytime, so this is deceiving.” He noted the wind died down yesterday, similar to what it is today but then kicked up again.

According to Capt. Scott McLean there have been 21 civilian and 4 firefighter injuries (Note, he’s working the Harris Fire in San Diego county).

As an aircraft passes over the TV shot, the Capt. said, “That is the sound of joy”. Since the wind has died down they are able to drop water using the planes but if then wind kicks up again then this is one less tool for the firefighters.

Tuesday Update

  • Google Map of Fire Area in San Diego
  • @ 8:54 AM — SignOn San Diego seems to be down again.
  • You can get to the San Diego Fire Blog here: http://fireblog.signonsandiego.com/
  • Evacuations have started for people near Ted Williams parkway — I 56 in North County
  • Guy in Ramona Who Stayed is willing to check on Homes and Animals in Ramona
  • Santee Update: Santana HS is a evacuation center, no fires have entered the area, the air quality seems to be OK there too. (Note, this is different from the 2003 fire when the air quality was terrible, electricity was lost for four days, maybe this time they will not experience any of this.)
  • Harris Fire Info Report from resident of the area on CraigsList
  • @9:42 AM PST - Scanner Note - Police are going door to door in the Remington Hills area of San Diego asking residents to leave homes

Webcams

Craiglist: Unfiltered Reports from Citizens

Note for those not in the local area, the Witch fire is the one that is affecting the most densely populated areas in San Diego between the Interstates 5 and 15. It is heading west straight to the ocean. This fire has burned, according to CalFire, about 164,000 acres, it is 1% contained, 500 home have been destroyed, 75 damaged, 100 commercial building destroyed, 75 damaged. Winds are blowing south and south west at 10 to 20 MPH. This fire is passing through several communities in San Diego county including: Poway, Ramona, Lakeside, Valley Center, San Marcos, Rincon, Wildcat Canyon, and Rancho Santa Fe. It is still hot in San Diego, about 75, with 6% humidity.

Caltrans Report of Road Closures on Tuesday at 10:07 AM

  • State Route 67 between Scripps Poway Parkway and Highland Valley Road
  • State Route 76, Valley Center to SR-79
  • State Route 78, Haverford Road to Santa Ysabel and westbound at Banner Grade
  • State Route R-79, SR-78 to SR-76
  • State Route 94, Steele Canyon Road to SR-188
  • State Route 188 closed in both directions

Monday Night Updates

My friend in Santee said she can see the fires on the hills above Santee but it is still far enough away that she doesn’t feel threatened. And the air is smoky so you need to wear a face mask if you’re outside. The latest news is that Santee is not directly threatened but the city is on alert. The Santee City web site will be posting updates on their site and has the reverse 911 system available for residents if things take a turn during the night.

This is a stressful time for everyone but San Diego is better prepared this time — people are getting support, communications are better, and although this is again a tragedy — its nice to see the ’system’ has become more efficient and has learned from the mistakes of the 2003 Cedar fires.

Evacuation Updates Monday Evening

Note this are just items I’ve found online — this is not an exhaustive list and is meant to direct people who are not in the area to other information sites.

This following info was taken directly from the city of Del Mar’s web site and was posted on Monday at 9:30 PM -
There is a Mandatory Evacuation for the following areas of the City of Del Mar:

All areas east of Crest Road
San Dieguito Drive
Oribia Road
Avenida Primavera (along Crest Road)
Serpentine Drive
Gatun Street
Balboa Avenue
Zapo Street

Sites of Interest

Local San Diego Television Coverage

You Tube Videos

Local San Diego Radio Coverage

  • KOGO
  • Star 94.1
  • SignOn San Diego Radio - Internet Radio station covering local San Diego news — dedicated to covering the fires in SD County and providing a unique perspective since they are am arm of the Union Tribune — San Diego’s newspaper.

Local San Diego Print/Newspaper Coverage

Local City Sites

Google Maps

Local News

Evacuations: Live Scanner Notes from First Responders on Monday Morning

  • @ 11:00 am PST Casa de Las Campanas Buses are en route to evacuate the retirement living home in San Diego, CA at 18655 West Bernardo Drive. They have a map here: http://www.casadelascampanas.com/contact.php
  • All of Rancho Santa Fe in now under mandatory evacaution orders.
  • Highway Patrol closed from 56 North to Via Rancho in both directions! Media report that it is open is INCORRECT!
  • Pomerado Hospital is being evacuated.
  • Life Guard Assets being used to fight the San Diego County Fires
  • Everything between the 5 & 15 freeways North of the 56 –the new Ted
    Williams parkway — has been evacuated.
  • Authorities say this will be worse than the 2003 Cedar fire.
  • San Diego Mayor asks people not to use cell phones so the lines can be used for emergencies.
  • 4900 Carbine Way in San Diego being evacuated
  • @ 12:23 PST Remington Hills in Otay Mesa being evacuated
  • @ 12:24 PST The Solana Beach community is being asked to be ready to evacuate
  • @ 12:36 Firefighters having trouble finding addresses because they don’t have updated map books!
  • @ 12:39 Portions of Lakeside, California being evacuated
  • @ 12:41 PST - Freeway 8 East is closed to traffic
  • @ 1:06 PST - Fire jumping Espola Road in Poway, by fire station 52
  • @ 1:06 PST Firefighters say, “What they are doing is not working.” This fire is directly threatening the city of Poway.
  • @ 1:10 PST Mandatory Valley Center Evacuates near the Bear Valley area. Valley Center High School is the evacuation center.
  • @ 1:10 PST Mandatory Fallbrook Evacuations are beginning on the eastern half of Fallbrook; from Insterstate 15 east to Live Oak Park Road, to Gird Road, and East Mission Road to the north and San Luis Rey River to the south.
  • @ 1:10 PST - Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Poway from Rattlesnake Creek to the south, Midland Road to the west, the San Diego Aqueduct to the east, and Lake Poway Road to the north.
  • @ 1:49 PST - Report from firefighters that the house at 18624 Locksley St, San Diego, CA is engulfed in flames. (I’m so sorry to hear about your lose.)
  • @ 2:11 PST - Fieldstone and Pomerado Road in Poway - fire trucks dispatched to defend structures.
  • @ 2:20 PST - San Diego State University has canceled classes today
  • @ 2:28 PST - 17000 Coyote Bush Drive, San Diego, CA - firefighters sent to defend structures.

Monday Afternoon: Overview of Fires Burning in San Diego County

  • Harris Fire - is 20,000 acres and 5 percent contained, located in the southern part of the county, near Chula Vista.
  • Witch Fire - threatened communities include: Highland Valley, City of San Diego/Rancho Bernardo, City of Escondido, City of Lakeside, Barona Indian Reservation, City of Poway, Wild Animal Park, Mt. Woodson, Muth Valley. Wind driven fire with spotting up to 1/2 mile. Rapid fire spread burning down hill, down canyon. The fire is burning primarily in unburned fuel between the 2003 Paradise and Cedar Fires.
  • McCoy Fire - is in Rice Canyon in the northern part of San Diego County. The fire started on October 22 at 4:16 am. 250 structures are threatened and 1 has been destroyed. No mandatory evacuations at this time.

Updates

SignOn San Diego — the Union Tribunes website is not accessible — seems the flood of connections has crashed their servers! Try back later is you can’t connect to those links. (10/22/2007 - 11:11 PST)

SignOn San Diego is back online!

My Story

After going through the San Diego Cedar fire four years ago waking up to the news of a similar fire happening again is tragic. I have family and friends in the affected areas and briefly spoke to a friend this morning. She says they are reporting the fires are going to be worse than the fires four years ago! If this is the case then this is not good and is really bad.

Contact Update
I’ve heard from my nephew in Ramona — they were evacuated last night and are safe. Everyone so far is safe — no one has lost anything at this point but it is scary situation.

Monday morning — as I said, I’ve made some calls, left some voice mails, and am attempting to get as much local information online as possible. And it is surprising how much is available but it is slow going because the sites are being hit heavy with traffic because not only those in the area want to find out what is going on — those who’ve left — like me are hitting the sites to get more localized info as opposed to watching the national media coverage who shows snippets of what is going on.

History