BS: San Diego/California Wildfires Again

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 03:34 PM

Thanks for the continued updates, Amos. The son and family of a close friend have been evacuated from Ramona. I hear they're safe but I don't know where.

Presumably when the maps show the perimeter of the fire (I'm looking mainly at the Witch fire, obviously) not everything within that perimeter has necessarily been destroyed?

Paws

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Metchosin
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 02:44 PM

Thanks for the link Peace. I have a soft spot in my heart for those old behemoths. The pic doesn't quite acknowledge the flying boat's massive size. They are awesome to watch in action. Also, the father of one of my dear friends was killed while working as a spotter pilot on one of their runs near here, when I was younger. Guiding them through the smoke in the mountains for a drop can be very risky business.

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 02:37 PM

There are fifteen to twenty thousand people beig housed in the large QualComm stadium; they are treating ill and elderly on-site, feeding and bedding people from all over the county with excellent help, supplies pouring in from donors all over the state.


A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 02:33 PM

ANother satellite image from NASA satellite showing the plume of fire and smoke and dust flying out to sea along the SSoCal and Baja coastlines.


A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 02:29 PM

HE's in Orange County, north of the danger zones from here, and well south of the Malibu problem area.

A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 02:23 PM

Gusts up to 30 mph are reported north of Del Mar along SR 56, maybe 7 miles E. of Del Mar, with sporadic flareups...

Retardant drops are acting successfuly to slow things where they can be deployed.


A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: gnu
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 02:21 PM

Hope all continues well for you Amos. Stay safe, buddy.

Any news from Bald Eagle? Is he flying the fires? Or roasting sausages? (Hey, stiff upper Brit lip, right?)

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 02:20 PM

The reports are 5% containment for the southern Harris Ranch fire, 1% containment for the northern Witch Creek fire. Encroachment westward continues, but it is slow.

A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 02:15 PM

That's good news, Met, and thnaks for the image, Peace. We need all the air support we can get, even today. They're still closing roads and ordering new evacs as they fight to keep the fires from spreading west, both at the north end of the county and down south along the latitude of Chula Vista.

A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Peace
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:59 PM

Mars water bomber.

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Metchosin
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:55 PM

Just heard on the news that BC is sending down our large Mars water bombers. Might as well, they serve no useful purpose here in the wet, although I would have thought that they might have gone down, way before now. I really hope they will be of substantial use Amos. All the best.

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:39 PM

Here's the latest LA Times map of fire areas and their impact: click.

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:33 PM

The European Space Agency has provided these images of the region from way up above.

How's that for carbon emissions, Arnie?


A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:30 PM

NPR this morning was saying that 250,000 people have been evacuated, and that there was virtually no containment.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:14 PM

Local updates:

The Harris Fire is 70, 000 acres and 5% contained. Firefighters are looking for full control of this fire on November 4th.

250 residences have been damaged and 200 have been destroyed. 5 firefighters and 20 civilians have been burned and there was 1 civilian fatality. Currently we have 65 Engines, 9 fire crews, 2 dozers, 5 water tenders, 3 airtankers, 2 helicopters, 2 helitankers, (500 firefighters).

Areas threatened: regional communications site on San Miguel Mountain. Power grid and sub station, Water treatment plant, Chula Vista, San Diego, Potrero, Barrett Junction, Barrett Lake area, Engineer Springs, Dulzura, Deerhorn Valley, Lawson Valley, Jamul, Lyons Valley area and Otay Mountain.

The fire burned 50+ homes in Deerhorn Valley Fire and Honey Springs. Fire moved rapidly to the west/southwest to Chula Vista and Otay Lake and north to the south end of Barrett Lake. Firefighters are engaged in protecting a critical Power Grid sub-station and a water treatment plant.



The Witch Fire is 164,000 acres and 1 percent contained. There have been 7 injuries to firefighters and to 2 civilians. Communities Threatened: San Diego, Poway, Ramona, Escondido, Lakeside, Valley Center, San Marcos, Rancho Santa Fe, Rincon, Wildcat Canyon.

Currently there are 218 engines, 17 dozers, 14 fire crews, 17 water tenders (1492 firefighters). 500 residences destroyed - 250 damaged, 100 commercial properties destroyed – 75 damaged, 50 outbuildings destroyed – 50 damaged.

The Rice Fire is 6,100 acres and 0% contained, firefighters are looking for full containment on November 1st. 500 residences have been destroyed and 30 have been damaged. 1 Firefighter has been injured.

Currently there are 55 engines, 6 fire crews, 1 dozer (170 firefighters). Fire is making major runs toward Fallbrook, and may burn in to Santa Margarita and Sandia Creek drainages.

It is anticipated this fire will combine up with Rosa fire which started in Riverside.

The Poomacha Fire is 1,000 acres and 0% contained. This fire is located at Highway 76 and Pauma Valley (Thomas Brother Map Page 409 E7).

The fire originated in a structure and spread into the vegetation. There has been 8 injuries to firefighters.

There are 15 engines, 2 water tenders (60 firefighters). The fire started on the La Jolla Indian Reservation. The fire has spread into Valley Center and Yellow Brick Road areas. Law Enforcement has started the reverse 911 to initiate evacuations of entire Hwy 76 corridor.


The McCoy Fire is a U.S. Forest Service fire and is 300 acres and 50% contained, full containment is expected on the 23rd. 1 structure has been destroyed and there have been no reported injuries."

A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:01 PM

This is one piece of advice which should be promulgated to all concerned citizens in the US and UK:

"SDGE important notice to evacuees: Do not turn gas off when you vacate".

Just remember that the next time you vacate.


A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 12:34 PM

The whole thing is so scary & tragic. I am glad you are ok, Amos, but this is going to affect the whole area for years...just in the problems of relocating people and deciding what & where to rebuild.

So little to say...I guess I'll just watch and hope it dies down SOON!

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 11:36 AM

We've seen this first-hand after the Cedar fires.

The big fuel is bone-dry brush, which is not kept down by controlled burns in the wetter seasons. This may be re-thought now. Protesting about carbon emissions from controlled burns gets ridiculous when you look at the satellite images of the huge smoke plumes pouring west out over the Pacific from this county from end to end.

We are keeping our fingers crossed about the winds.

Here's the area map. Zoom in a little and you'll see La Jolla, a bump on the coast just north of the city of San Diego.

We are in the NE corner of the intersection of I5 and SR 52, just east of La Jolla.

So far, so good.


A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 10:41 AM

It doesn't sound like things improved overnight. In reading the most recent Google News listing, Forbes has the following sentence:

"One person has been killed, more than 20 people injured and around 260,000 acres have been destroyed in the fires, which are some of the worst in the state's history."

I think they should more acurately say the 260,000 acres have burned or blackened, they haven't been destroyed, because the land is still there. The stuff on the land has been burned and it if was real property it was destroyed. But once the fires are over it's a pretty remarkable process how the land can quickly heal from a fire, depending on the grade, amount of damage, etc. It's one of the things that made work as a fire fighter and timber crew employee in the Forest Service so interesting, to go to places burned last year, the year before that, several years previous (intentionally or wildfire) and see how the plants and animals return. Whether I fought the fire on that land or not, the evolution of returning life is fascinating.

This is a note to file in the back of your head for long after the chaos and pathos of today's fires have passed.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 10:39 AM

It has vared from smelly and dusty when the wind is in the wrong direction, to blue-skies clear and light breezes in the right direction.

The heavy pall of smoke you see from the satellite image are to the north of us.

Military aircraft should be starting drops of H20 and retardant this morning, to reinforce efforts of local forces that were deployed until dark last night.

The evacuations are being very well managed and so far spirits are high.

A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:00 AM

Seems there should be a punchline about exploding (koala) bears.

Amos, how is the air quality in your area, even if the flames seem to be keeping their distance?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 12:10 AM

Go jump in, gg.

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Janie
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 10:58 PM

I can't help but think of long avenues lined with exploding Eucalyptus trees.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: beardedbruce
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 10:56 PM

I keep seeing the fires on CNN-

Amos, take care of yourself.

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 10:16 PM

Here's a Google map of the fires -- the news is that the fire in Orange County (south end of LA) is arson. Crazy.

click

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 10:07 PM

KPBS has been doing a good full ime coverage too.


A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Azizi
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 09:44 PM

A poster on that blog I mentioned indicates that this radio station is providing the best live coverage of the fires:

http://www.knx1070.com/

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: annamill
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 09:32 PM

I hope all goes well for you, Amos! Sa I said in other thread, Glenn is up there working to relieve other Security Guards. I'm a little worried for him, but I think he'll be ok. I'm on Mission Bay, safe. If you need a place to run to, please let me know. Just IM me.

Good wishes to us all here in Paradise.

Love, Annamill

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 09:32 PM

I hope you and your neighbors make out okay, Amos. Hell of a scary situation. I'll check in tomorrow and see how you're doing down there.

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Azizi
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 09:28 PM

I started rhis thread thread.cfm?threadid=105712&messages=8 on the California fires before seeing this one.

I'm sorry about that.

I've asked for that thread to be combined with this one. But some people are still posting to that thread. I'm not sure that we need both current threads, but if the moderators don't want to combine them, so be it.

That thread has a link to this live blog on the San Diego fires:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/22/16056/919

Just in case people here need that information, here's a repost of what I had quoted from that dailykos blog:

Here's a California Wildfires Mothership - Liveblog
by Miss Blue
Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 09:45:13 AM PDT

"The California wildfires are still burning out of control. Zero containment, with fierce Santa Anna winds as of 11:30am CST.

Please use this diary as your go-to resource for emergency info. We have many Kossacks in CA and in the fire zones providing invaluable information, which can be accessed through these Wildfire diaries...

To volunteer to help: 858-306-1266

If you have animals or livestock that you cannot evacuate yourself or that need to be rescued, call [phone] and press Š1‰ for emergency services.

If you have a stable or other areas that are safe and can house a number of large animals and livestock that need to be evacuated, please call the San Diego Humane Society at [phone]. SDHS is also in need of portable livestock panels for temporary corrals. If you have these available for use, please call [phone].

KLSD - 1360 am radio.

-snip-

Please be safe, everyone.

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: Amos
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 09:28 PM

I'm peachy, Annamill!!

A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 09:23 PM

I think we're going to pull through. There have been no offical announcements of containment, but the number of air drops has gone up dramatically from both rotary and fixed-wing, and there are TV scenarios of parts of the northern fire being beaten back. The air drops will stop any minute now, as it is sundown, but the ground forces will be on the attack all through the night. If the winds settle a little we have a fighting chance of beating this thing within 36 hours, is my personal guess.

Meanwhile, down south, the Chula Vista city area is being threatened but is still under "Voluntary Evacuation" alert.

QualComm stadium is full of people helping each other, settling in, getting cots and blankets, or showing up with donations. The morale there seems high in spite of the extreme stress of dislocation.

Although the Miramar AFB command has announced they are relocating their aircraft as a precaution, I haven't seen further encroachment since Scripps Ranch was put on evac notice a few hours ago.

Fingers crossed and the good Lawd willin', we'll have daylight come sunrise.

A

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: annamill
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 09:19 PM

Amos, you ok? Glenn had to go work up at Barona tonight to relieve
Security that have been up there since yesterday. Right on Wildcat Canyon Rd! I'm a little worried for him up there. I'm right on Mission Bay, out of danger for now. How about you, Amos?

Love, Annamill

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: astro
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 09:18 PM

Well, was supposed to observe tonight with my classes, but it's too smoky. The air is bad here. It was extremely windy and gusty coming in today. Bad dust storms.


Astro in Cypress.....

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: Goose Gander
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 09:04 PM

In Southern California, but I'm safe - far from fire areas. Thanks for your concern.

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 07:36 PM

Thanks so much, Laurel! We may have some landing places nearer by -- one friend on Coronado has invited us in. I doubt any wiuld fire will jump across the bay. But greatly appreciated, anyway!



A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: open mike
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 07:14 PM

wow! i hope you stay safe, Amos, and do keep us posted if you can. I
think Butte County has sent some resources toward the south. There seem
to be multiple fires raging in the area at this time. these sites are supposed to have info...not working for me right now..
http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current
www.fs.fed.us/r5/fire/
http://inciweb.org/state/5/

If you need a place to take refuge, there is elbow room here!

Laurel

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 07:04 PM

Astro drove over to LA today for the week -- he's down in the Long Beach area and no fires there, but high winds and lots of smoke and stuff in the air as he was coming across, from the fires north and east.

We've got high winds in Tucson, but no fires, thank goodness. We are ripe for them, though since we had an unusually wet summer here in the desert. It's cool here; astro says it's hot over there from the Santa Ana winds.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: Azizi
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 07:03 PM

Sorry, Amos.

I didn't mean to step on your thread.

Shouldn't this thread be closed and combined with yours?

I hope you and Michael Morris, and Banjoest are safe.

Shucks, I hope that everybody is safe.

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:54 PM

Ta, Giok. Peace has promised to send a Canadian warship down to pull us out of here if the occasion warrants.


A

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: Amos
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:53 PM

Where are you, Michael?


A

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: Goose Gander
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:45 PM

Very smoky and hot around where I live . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:42 PM

Gosh me old Santee, hope things get better for you and your neighbours. Thinking of you, here in Scotland.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:40 PM

THey need to. A leap in the wrong direction could accelerate the situation very rapidly.

A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:40 PM

My prayers are with all affected folks in San Diego Cty who are suffering because of the those fires. Too, I feel bad for the residents and wildlife in the hills and mountains of Los Angeles and San Bernardino. Be safe, all.

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Janie
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:34 PM

And thoughts and prayers from all over Mudville that the occasion will NOT be forced upon you.

I'm also watching the Malibu fire.   I have friends who live up Topanga Canyon Rd., right outside of Pacific Palisades, and close family who live up a short, dead-in canyon whose property ajoins Will Rogers State Park (your Governator lived across the street from them before he was governated.) Will Rogers abutts Topanga Canyon Park. Nothing but dense, dry brush for acres and acres all around them. They are about 15 miles from Malibu and less than 5 miles from Topanga Canyon. The Malibu fire is moving in their direction.

They are not in harm's way at present, but are readying themselves, just in case.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:07 PM

We've had the car loaded with tools, tents and sleepingbags since last night. There are two large areas between us and the fires -- one being the Miramar AFB, and the other being Mira Mesa which is a great lot of concrete, which will slow down any encroachment.

There are 75 engine companies deployed from San Diego County, and a thousand trucks on their way from other regions and states.

The Governator just held a press conference relaying offers of help from President Bush, Diane Feinstein and a lot of other good will, but I have heard no substantive statements other than the above. I would expect to see B-17s overhead with huge loads of foam and retardant, but the wind power in the fire areas is awesome.

800 National Guards are being pulled off border patrols to help evac and vicitims. The professionals are stunned at how fast the north end of the County is being swept with flame.

Fallbrook is being evacuated.

So far all sites of danger are still ten miles away and not coming in our direction.

Donuel, I always lean in the side of caution. Right now, the position at home is safe.

The winds may not die before the end of Wednesday, and the north county westward blown fires may not stop until they reach the Pacific.

They have reported 5% containment on the southern Harris fire.

Precious little given the time, an indicator of how voracious these conditions of dry atmosphere, high winds and high temps are.

A

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: Azizi
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:04 PM

Sorry, I just noticed that there is already a current thread about the San Diego fires.

Would a moderator please combine my first two comments with that other thread?

Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: California Fires
From: Amos
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:04 PM

Az:

See the contemperaneous thread on San Diego Wildfires.

As for other Catters, I have not heard from Banjoest and am not sure where he is located.

A

Subject: RE: BS: San Diegos Wildfires Again
From: Amos
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:02 PM

I sent a long post which hit a down-spot and failed. Basically the county is in pretty dire straits. So far they are not impinging on our region and the winds around here are running NW, away from us.

We are ready to pull out if the occasion is forced n us.

Scripps/Poway area is under evacuation. South of State 78 is still clear. We're well south of there.

Qualcomm Stadium has been pressed into service as a evac center; Del Mar Fairgrounds is already full, including all their stables, filled with evacuated horses.

250,000 residents around the county are evacuating or already evacuated.

Hundreds of homes have gone up in flames in the path of the major fires.

So far, so good. We all have our fingers crossed.

A