10.23.2007

SoCal Fires

(All times Pacific) - Latest news posted here at top.
10.24.07 - 2409
Still lookin' ugly overall...

View Larger Map

10.23.07 - 2351
Well, looks like I don't have to worry about this fire (which is the one pictured below), but this one does not bode well for Fallbrook.

10.23.07 - 2105
Well, I turned off all the news and such for a few hours, since I was just stressing myself out. Just checked back in, and looking like things are kinda settling down in my area. Hopefully the wind does not shift during the night.

10.23.07 - 1604
Here's the latest San Diego map as of 1215.

10.23.07 - 1337
Looks like it is not as bad as it seems. Found this comment on an article from the Californian / NC Times website. They are using this article as a kind of "Live Blog" through the comments:

Bob wrote on Oct 23, 2007 12:32 PM:

" I heard some news updates just now. Main source is the local UHF TV channel 27 in Temecula, KZSW, The other source is the "SD county emergency" web site. 1. The large cloud of smoke southeast of Temecula and Murrieta is from a fire called the La Jolla Indian Reservation fire that started there about 4:10 AM this morning. It has spread fast but is father away than it looks. The reservation is about 15 miles southwest of the Pala Casino on hwy 76. The fire is no doubt way out of the reservation now. The smoke seen rising from over the mountain looks like the fire is moving easterly., but maybe at ground level it may also be spreading out other ways. 2. Valley Center has been completely evacuated. . 3. Now they are saying the Pala Indian Resort was evacuated and not damaged but a mobile home park near there was burned up about noon today. 4. The Lawrence Welk Resort alongside of I15 is being evacuated because of a different fire coming over the mountain behind it FROM the east. That fire is believed have started from embers blown south from the Rainbow, Rice Canyon, Fallbrook fires that the firemen hoped were already out This fire is moving West. 5. 45 of these expensive Rancho Santa Fe homes burned up last night and 500 homes in Fallbrook. 6. The San Diego County emergency web site posted at 10:57 AM this morning says there is a mandatory evacuation of the portions of De Luz and Rainbow within San Diego County plus Rainbow. That seems odd because it sounds like residents are allowed to enter De Luz from Temecula. The remaining De Luz fire is moving west, so maybe that makes sense. 7. President Bush declared the area a federal emergency area and federal fire fighting airplanes came to the Miramar Air Station and went out fighting the fires already, and other federal help is enroute. "
Well, at least that is some good news for us.

10.23.07 - 1226

Here are said pics:

Looks like it dinna get under control... and it found more fuel.


Close up of same.


And on the other side of town...

Still playing the waiting game. We'll see what happens.

10.23.07 - 1213
The previously pictured smoke is bigger now... much bigger. Updated pics soon.

10.23.07 - 1123
If you have Google Earth, this site has some interesting links.

10.23.07 - 1049
Pics from our backyard.




10.23.07 - 1000
Some local news plus pics. And more pics.

10.23.07 - 0828
My dad was telling me about all the ambulances passing him on the road yesterday. They were moving all the patients from the local hospitals. Lots of the "Retirement Homes" and Senior Centers have moved their residents to The Del Mar Fairgrounds and Qualcomm Stadium.

Here we have one of our local news personalities broadcasting from his house... which was burning down as he talked.

According to this map, I might be "asked" to evacuate... the way the Mafia "asks" for their protection fees, which means, get out or you're on your own.

10.23.07 - 0110
Hooray for a blog?

10.22.07 - 2349
Here's some of the verbiage they're putting out to us, I'll put my fav parts in bold:

WITCH FIRE:
The latest update from CALFIRE reports the fire is now 145,000 acres and zero percent contained. The cause is under investigation.
• 600 structures have been destroyed (500 residences, 50 outbuildings, 100 commercial properties)
• 300 structures have been damaged (250 residences, 75 commercial properties and 50 outbuildings)
• Seven injuries to firefighters; one civilian injury
The fire is threatening the communities of San Diego, Poway, Ramona, Escondido, Lakeside, Valley Center, San Marcos, Rancho Santa Fe. Currently, about 625 firefighters are battling the blaze using 89 engines, nine fire crews, ten dozers and two water tenders.
HARRIS FIRE:
The Harris Fire has now burned 22,000 acres and is five percent contained. Some civilians have chosen not to evacuate and have created rescue problems as the fire impacts their community.
• Five firefighters injured; one civilian fatality, six civilians injured
• The cost to date to fight this fire is $1,300,000
The fire is threatening the communities of Potrero, Barrett Junction, Barrett Lake area, Engineer Springs, Dulzura, Deerhorn Valley, Lawson Valley, Jamul, Lyons Valley area and Otay Mountain, and extreme fire conditions are making conditions difficult.

And according to this and this, I literally live in Hell.

10.22.07 - 2025
Well, I hope I still have a job tomorrow. Kids, let this be a lesson on the importance of maintaining BCP.

10.22.07 - 1848
Here's the other half of our fun that combines with the above Google Map.

10.22.07 - 1714
Fun breaking news here.

10.22.07 - 1640
Yay! Now we have 14 fires! Oh, and from what the City of San Diego Fire Chief just said, because of the number of fires, and the order in which they happened... there are only THREE ENGINES available for the City Proper.

...

Wow.


--------------------

Well, my folks got the Evac order (not even a suggestion, full on LEAVE NOW) this morning, and we're watchin' and listenin' to see which direction thigns are going. We're kinda in the middle of everything, and so far, seem to be fortunate because we live near a valley / pass where all the heavy wind comes from. So no evac for us... yet.

If yer interested in seeing what is becoming a yearly occurance for us out here in Cali, see the below:

Updated PDF Map of San Diego fun. Updated at 1630 h.

Google Maps Fire Map - Los Angeles mostly. (People aren't updating that much with the SD stuff...)

Updates as they happen. Yay!

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