San Diego Area Fires

250,000 San Diego households told to flee


[color:ada1=#666]Escondido resident Jeff Meeker wets down foliage in between his house and his neighbor's on Lomas Serenas Drive.


[color:ada1=#333333! important]Blazes scorch more than 100,000 acres. 'A lot of people are going to lose their homes today,' a city fire official says.
[color:ada1=#999999! important]By Tony Perry and Michael Muskal, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
4:20 PM PDT, October 22, 2007
SAN DIEGO -- San Diego County authorities warned more than 250,000 households to evacuate today as wildfires raged across Southern California for another day, destroying hundreds of structures, clogging highways and sending smoke and ash over a wide area.

Schools were closed and hospitals evacuated by bus, and hundreds of people sought refuge in Qualcomm Stadium and other evacuation centers. Fire officials were stretched to their limits trying to cope with the fast-moving, wind-whipped blazes that burned more than 100,000 acres, or about 156 square miles.


Wildfires burn in San Diego County, California
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Day 2: Fires rage on


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Day 1: Fires erupt in Southern California


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Malibu Canyon area
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Protecting houses from wildfires
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Fires across California
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A History of Fire in Southern California
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Fighting Wildfires: An Uphill Battle
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"This is a major emergency," Ron Roberts, chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, told reporters as he outlined the scope of the damage and evacuations.

Emergency officials estimated that more than 250,000 households had been told to evacuate through the "reverse 911" system. At two people per household, that would be nearly 500,000 people, though it was unknown how many had responded to the evacuation call.

The number of evacuations rose steadily throughout the day. Five American Red Cross shelters were jammed, and thousands flocked to Qualcomm Stadium and Del Mar Fairgrounds. Many hotels reported 100% occupancy.

"We have more houses burning than we have people and engine companies to fight them," San Diego Fire Capt. Lisa Blake said. "A lot of people are going to lose their homes today."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger toured some of the damaged areas today and directed the California National Guard to make 1,500 Guardsmen available to be deployed as needed.

Fewer than 100 firefighters were in reserve to protect the 400-square-mile city, said John Langford, a spokesman for San Diego Fire and Rescue. Firefighters targeted the Guejito Fire, which burned into Rancho Bernardo, a neighborhood in northern San Diego.

"We're stretched about as thin as we could possibly be," San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarman said. "We've never seen conditions like this," she said of the wind, drought and dryness. "That's why it's the most challenging we've ever seen."

Langford added, "We have all our forces trying to fight this, everything available."

Emergency officials urged residents to limit cellphone calls and to use major highways for emergencies only. But people who heeded warnings to get out of the way of the fires mostly left by car, turning the northbound Interstate 5 into the kind of mess usually associated with weekend revelers heading home.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for Rancho Santa Fe, portions of Leucadia, as well as the Olivenhain Dam area.

San Diego County authorities reported that 250,000 people had been ordered to leave their homes, and that dozens of houses had burned. Overall in Southern California, more than 100 homes have been destroyed across seven counties. Tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate from fires fed by fierce Santa Ana winds.

As evening approached, the wind began to subside, creating a little breathing room.

Among those evacuated were hundreds of patients at Pomerado Hospital and a nursing home in suburban Poway, said Susan Knauss, a spokeswoman for the San Diego Sheriff's Department. Many used walkers and canes as they were helped on to waiting buses.

Like her friends, 99-year-old Sara Sally Meland said she was told to pack a suitcase and take her medications. She said she couldn't remember if she had put her medicine in her white bag.

"I'm a little too old to be doing this," said Meland, a former real estate agent.

"This is the worst position I've ever been in," she said.

The elderly residents, some forced to carry their oxygen tanks, were taken to the Stadium Club lounge at Qualcomm Stadium. One woman in a red bathrobe and slippers pushed her walker.

Dozens of homes and one church were reported to be burning in Rancho Bernardo. But Frances Singleton, who lives in Rancho Bernardo, said she was optimistic that her home would survive.

Are you guys all okay?

What they are not reporting is that the fire has left our East County without firemen to stop it. Blossom Valley is expected to burn at dusk, and they predict that it will hit Crest again by 9 o'clock tonight.

Crest was devastated in 2003, and I am very afraid for those living there. I grew up there, my mother, sister, nephew, and brother-in-law live there. They asked people to leave, but my family is staying until it is mandatory. My other nephew is under a voluntary evacuation in his area of East county as well. My sister-in-law lives just below Crest, and my mother-in-law is in an area in danger too. Please pray for them.

Are they at least moving some of their most valuable items out for the time being? So they don't need to rush with them later on? I really hoope they'll be okay.

Thank you Grant.

They are packing up, and my mom is totally packed. My sister and co. are loading up their motorhome, so they will be more than ready. They did it last time.

On another note, Damon is totally excited because his relatives are coming over! Ah to be eight and innocent huh?

Hehe that's adorable. It's better he doesn't know about the fires being a very vicious thing right now. I remember years ago seeing the fires around Sydney (from a distance) and just thinking how pretty the sky looked. If you've got a good place nearby to use as a lookout, I'm sure he'll dig it.

The air quality is not safe to be outside. He has asthma, and we are trying to keep him indoor so that he does not have an attack.

They just issued an evacuation request for Harbison Canyon. Harbison Canyon is about 3 miles away from my mom's house. Crap.

Oh yeah the fires never really got so close as to affect my asthma, so I guess I got off lucky. Hope he'll be okay. Is school out for a little while, as the fires go on?

All San Diego County Schools are closed for today and tomorrow. My message from work was that they would make a decision about the rest of the week tomorrow.

Do you get paid for your time off? I guess not, because you're not full time, are you? That'd suck.

I hope you have one of those air purifiers for Damon, because he may need it for a while.

Nope, no pay for me. We don't have an air purifier, but I have everything they would use to treat asthma at the E.R. at home as far as meds go.

Good deal. I'm really worried now, because attacks are just the most uncomfortable thing I could possibly imagine. I hope the poor fellow won't have any hassles.

Though knowing super-mum, she's doing everything she can to make sure it doesn't happen.

And I hope the rest of your family's okay too

wow. i've been watching this on the news today. i can't believe the coverage (as in land area not news broadcasts) of these fires.

i immediately thought of you fuscia. i remember you having to go through this a few years back. not a lot i can say except i hope you all are okay. i certainly don't know what you're going through.

Thank you Larke, I appreciate the kind words and thoughts.

I just called my sister, and they are heading out to our house. It is time to evacuate, and it is not mandatory yet, but the fire marshall told them when they saw flames over the ridge, to leave. Well, the fire is coming, and I pray that God spares Crest. Those people have been through hell, and they are almost rebuilt after four years. What a tragedy. There are no fire fighters to combat the blaze in the area it is going through either. Crest has a tiny firehouse, three churches, an elementary school, one park, a pizza shop, and two market/liquor stores.

I talked to Kris just a few minutes ago. She is safe, and she has family staying with her who had to evacuate from North County.


Crest is an unincorporated community in San Diego County, California, United States. The Crest census-designated place (CDP) had a population of 2,716 at the 2000 census.



[edit] Geography


Crest is located on a hill east of El Cajon. According to the USGS it is located at 32°48′26″N, 116°52′05″W (32.8072739 -116.8680800)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau Crest is located at 32°48′21″N, 116°52′3″W (32.805918, -116.867405)GR1, approximately 500 feet to the southeast of the USGS location. The CDP has a total area of 16.5 km² (6.4 mi²), all land. Mail sent to Crest is addressed to El Cajon, California.

[edit] History


The name Crest is actually the result of the combination of the previously named La Cresta (in the northern part of the community), and Suncrest (in the southern part of the community). Crest was twice devastated by wildfires: first by the Laguna Fire in 1970 then again by the Cedar Fire in 2003.
Gregory Peck once owned a summer home in Crest


Crest is 1400 feet above sea level. It is 3 miles up a grade above El Cajon. There are many canyons and a lot of wildlife there.

Could I ask, is everybody in your family insured?

Yes, but the insurance companies give you very little to rebuild with, and it is really hard to get your $$$ upped to cover more for the next fire.

Sucks. Hope their homes get through this okay.

My brother-in-law gets a call at 4am this morning to come and get his mother from her nursing home. She has dementia and several medical conditions that require constant medical attention. He has been evacuated himself , and we have no place to put her here even if we could take care of her. He went to go get her , but he has no idea what to do with her

Man, wreaks like burned ass all around here.

The office was evacuated yesterday. That was sweet. Back at work now though.

Luckily my area is okay for the time being.

Some wild shit going on.

-HECK!

Heck, I'm glad that you are in a safe area. Illuminate is also in a safe place I hope.

My mom was a basket case last night. She's 76 and it is just a lot for her to deal with. The waiting is hard, but I hope the weathermen are right and that Crest is spared. Those people, many of them, just got back into their homes this last year.

FYI for our friends out of the area, all the TV stations are doing fire coverage. It's strange to have almost 24/7 news about the fires.

Glad you guys are okay too. I remember what area you live in and saw it was in the clear as of last night.

I couldn't stop watching the news coverage. Especially since they pre-empted Heroes and Chuck.

Weird, weird stuff.

Illuminates office is shut down again. Lucky.

-HECK!

fuscia wrote:

The air quality is not safe to be outside. He has asthma, and we are trying to keep him indoor so that he does not have an attack.

The air is horrible. I am hacking up a lung. Can't even have a cig. It's really bad.

-HECK!

Our school district posted that there will be no school for the remainder of the week. Boy is my paycheck going to be tiny. I'll only have eight days on it. Still, it's all about the kids being safe, and I would not want Damon outside having to breathe this stuff.

Heck, take care of yourself. IF you get where you are short of breath, get to a doctor or E.R. asap. I don't want anything happening to you.

I'll be cool. Coughing like a mofo. At least I'm not smoking.

This sucks.

Few people here at the office were evac'd from their house. Brining in luggage to work.

-HECK!

fuscia wrote:

Thank you Grant.

They are packing up, and my mom is totally packed. My sister and co. are loading up their motorhome, so they will be more than ready. They did it last time.

On another note, Damon is totally excited because his relatives are coming over! Ah to be eight and innocent huh?

That's how I was as a kid, a hurricane would come close and I'd all want it to hit, cause I thought it would be cool, and it was fun and stuff.