SoCal Fire News Live Thread 10/27 - News updates/pics only!

(Updates welcome. Freepmail me or post 'em. I need all the help maintaining this list that I can get! Please, let's not discuss theories of how the fires started, or political debates of who should or should not be there... let's keep this thread as a fire-news only thread. Thank you!)

Most recent total update: 1,100 homes lost in the southland. 325,000 acres burned. 30,000 homes still threatened by the fire.

Hemet fire, Riverside county. As of last heard report, 6500 acres burned. May have joined with the Mountain fire (see below).

Simi Valley fire, Ventura county/northern Los Angeles county - Combined with original Val Verde/Santa Clarita fire. 120,000 acres. Six homes destroyed, eight damaged. Containment: 0 percent. Start: Oct. 25. Firefighters trying to save Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Voluntary evacuations for Moorpark. Personnel: 599 firefighters. Cause: Arson. People in Box Canyon, Woolsey Canyon, Twin Lakes, Iverson Ranch, and other nearby regions have been evacuated. Evacuated region is north of Santa Suzanna Pass. Fire currently closest to Indian Oaks mobile home park.

Piru fire, Ventura county - 5,500 acres. Containment: 85 percent. Start: Oct. 23, west of Lake Piru in Ventura County. The fire in Los Padres National Forest is threatening the Sespe Wilderness and Sespe Condor sanctuary. There are no condors currently in the refuge. Voluntary evacuations in Piru and parts of Fillmore. Personnel: 780 firefighters. Cause: Under investigation.

Grand Prix fire, San Bernardino & Los Angeles counties - 40 mile fireline from LA to San Bernardino county (includes Old Waterman fire and Crestline fire) - Fire line is 40 miles long including the Old Waterman fire. 35,000 acres. 62 homes destroyed. Containment: 23 percent. Mandantory evacuations in Lytle Creek, Mt. Baldy, Rialto, and parts of Claremont, Upland, and other foothill communities of the San Gabriel Mtns. Personnel: 2,427 firefighters. Fire started on Foxborough Drive in the city of Fontana. Cause: Arson. Fire considered 100 percent contained in western region reaching from La Verne, CA to Rancho Cucamonga, CA. (Yay!)

Old Waterman fire, San Bernardino county - Size: 15,000 acres. 300 homes and ten commercial buildings destroyed. Deaths: 2. Containment: 5 percent. Start: Oct. 25 near San Bernardino National Forest. Evacuations in foothill areas of San Bernardino and mountain communities, including Crestline and Lake Arrowhead. Personnel: 917 firefighters. Cause: Arson.

Crestline fire, San Bernardino county - Burning next to Crestline and Lake Arrowhead currently, with evacuations in Big Bear, Running Springs, Blue Jay, and other close areas. Acreage unknown. Grand Prix fire is burning up the mountain to join with it, slowly but surely. Approx. 30 structures in Crestline burned. Mandantory evacuations in Lake Arrowhead, Rim Forest, Sky Forest, Running Springs, Arrowbear, Blue Jay, Crestline, Green Valley Springs, and Big Bear. Hospital in Lake Arrowhead has been evacuated as per NBC4 broadcast; patients have been taken to hospitals in Hesperia and other high-desert cities.

San Clemente/Camp Pendleton fire, San Diego county - Freeper reports that it was just south of San Onofre power plant, a couple miles inland from the 5 freeway. Size: 4,800 acres. Containment: 75 percent. No structures burned, although the fire threatened homes in nearby De Luz. Started Oct. 21st on the base north of San Diego. Key facts: Authorities are downplaying early reports that fire was ignited by live ammo exercises on the base. Personnel: 1,000 firefighters. Cause: Under investigation.

Mountain fire, Riverside county - Now combo fire, including Rancho California fire: 6,000 acres. Six structures destroyed. Containment: 60 percent. Some burn injuries reported. Evacuations ordered for homes near Lake Skinner. Two civillian injuries. Personnel: 250 firefighters. Cause: Under investigation.

Riverside fire, Riverside county - Fire was located at last report (2:42pm) at Limonite Av/northbound I-15. Brush fire, no visibility on freeway at report time.

Malibu fire, Los Angeles/Ventura county region - FIRE OUT as of 10/26/03! Hooray!

Otay Lakes fire, San Diego county. Still active. Last update as of 3:56pm; location of fire was Otay Lakes Rd. at Wueste Rd. Closure on Otay Lakes Rd. at the 94. Fire jumped to northbound side of Procter Vally at Otay Lakes Rd. No other info available.

Cedar fire, San Diego county. Structures burned: 100 homes in Ramona, 150 in Scripps Ranch, 10 in Tierrasanta, 8 in Santee, 50-100 structures in Crest (east of El Cajon), many other structures. Deaths: 9. Injured: 2 firefighters, several civilians. Started Oct. 25 in eastern San Diego County, between Julian and Ramona. 200,000 acres burned. Personnel: More than 800 firefighters. Containment: 0 percent. Extends to Scripps Ranch, Poway, Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, portions of Santee, Lakeside, Ramona, El Cajon, San Carlos, Alpine, and Blossom Valley. Air traffic nationwide was disrupted when this fire forced the evacuation of a FAA control center at Miramar. Cause: Authorities believe a hunter set a signal fire when he got lost.

Dulzura fire, San Diego county - Also known as the Mine fire. 15,000 acres. Containment: 0 percent. Personnel: 300 firefighters. Started Oct. 26 in southern San Diego county. Fire crossed the border into Mexico, but no structures were threatened in Tijuana. Cause: Under investigation.

Paradise fire, San Diego county. Also known as Escondido fire. 15,000 acres. 57 homes and 103 outbuildings burned (no homes in Escondido area were lost), two deaths. Containment: 0 percent. Started Oct. 26 in Valley Center area near Interstate 15. Valley View Casino evacuated. Personnel: More than 500+ firefighters. Cause: Under investigation.

DePortola (Temecula) fire, Riverside county (may be San Diego county?) - Started 2:16pm 10/27/03 near the I-15 & Hwy 76. Small brush fire. May be out.

Norco? fire, Los Angeles county - Started approx 2:58 pm, fire beneath the 71 freeway, 2 suspects with a red cass can seen running towards the local humane society. No additional details since 3:12pm. Fire estimated to be at SR71 just north of Mission Blvd. (May have to go personally check this one out.)

San Luis Obispo fire, county unknown - Reported at 9:03am. As of report at 1:03pm, fire was burning towards Resevoir Canyon in a SE direction. Fire near the 101 freeway; as per 3:04pm report, traffic delays up to 45 minutes due to fire.

Yucaipa fire, Riverside/San Bernardino county - Reported to be near state route 38 and Bryant. No other info available.

Antelope Valley fire, county unknown - Not much info on this fire, except a location (as of 3:46pm) of Avenue J at 90th St. East.

Long Beach fire, Los Angeles county - Not much info on this fire except location of 5602 N. Long Beach Blvd; may be a building fire in-city and not a wildfire.

Convoy fire, San Diego county - Reported start at 3:29pm, location westbound 52 at Convoy. Small brush fire. No other info available.

Redding fire, San Bernardino county - Reported as of 5:52pm, location Dersch Rd. at Parkville Rd in Redding. No additional info available.

Point Reyes fire (Northern California) - Reported as of 3:46pm. A ditch was on fire along Petaluma Rd. at Nicasio Valley Rd. 1 lane of traffic shut down. No further information available.

OTHER: Reports of a P2V Firefighting plane, crashed 7.4 miles SSW of Big Bear Dam. Supposedly ignited a fire, no survivors expected. Crash was described as in "pieces".

JUST IN: Report of a transformer fire in San Bernardino, location Alto Dr. at Mesa Ct. No further info avail.

Sudden burst of Freeper scanner reports follows. The first one is in relation to the Highland end of the Old Waterman fire; the rest are in reference to the Crestline/Lake Arrowhead area:

From Freeper Conservative4Ever:

"Okay...here is the latest from 38 and Bryant. Repeated my route from this afternoon...fear not Spect would never interfer with FF operations...38 is open south of Bryant. Still closed to 'residents only' north of Bryant. I cruised down into Mentone and could see a wall of flame crawling it's way east to the 38. If I lived on that route I would be seriously thinking of making evac plans. Funny thing though, nobody, nobody was the least bit concerned. Police officers had a side road blocked off just north of Amythest Rd...the one that hugs the mountain (where the fire is now)...can't remember the name and my maps are back at home..damn..I digress..the 38 is open through Mentone/ North Redlands but..."

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB Scanner: Devore area, Greenwood St. Residents refusing to leave."

From Freeper BurbankKarl:

"24632 CA18....structure in jeopardy, no fire crews"

From Freeper spectr17:

"fire racing in tree tops Twin Peaks, they're losing it"

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB Scanner: Front of fire is at Strawberry Peak Dr."

From Freeper spectr17:

"structures lost, Running Springs next"

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB Scanner: Front of fire is at Strawberry Peak Dr to Bear Springs Road."
"SB Scanner: Fire is moving east, both sides of hwy 18, moving rapidly."

From Freeper spectr17:

"Daley Canyon burning
IT's running east"

Another burst of scanner information:

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB SCANNER: 189 JCT burning to Strawberry Peak."

"SB Scanner: FIRE IS HEADED TO BLUE JAY."

From Freeper spectr17:

"CDF paging out FFs, report to Hwy 18 and Daley Canyon, Command calling for more strike teams"

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB Scanner: We're at a point in Highland where we can break one of the strike teams loose."

From Freeper ladypixel:

"San Bernardino scanner quote: "We have a civilian vehicle in the middle of the strike team...""

From Freeper spectr17:

"Water tender 25 responding to RimForest"

From Freeper BurbankKarl:

"one fire station reporting everything is on fire around it..."

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB Scanner: Sending 2 strike teams and local forces into Rim Forest."

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB Scanner: Smoke reports on Chuck Wagon."

From Freeper spectr17:

"structures burning in RimForest, Blackfoot trail
FF calling for more assetts"

From Freeper Mntngoat:

"Multiple structures burning at blackfoot. no additional resources available"

From Freeper ladypixel:

"San Bernardino scanner quote: "The front of fire off Strawberry Peak Rd. seems to be laying down; it's not moving at the same pace it was.""

From weblog at http://homepage.mac.com/joeurbz/iblog/index.html :

Updates from 12:40pm

The fight of Twin Peaks and Rim Forest.

- Highway 18 is now blocked off; they must come to RHS via 189/Daley Canyon or 330/18.

- Strawberry peak tower is intact with smoldering debris around it. Gate to the tower is passable. [Denny]

- Fire by high school is getting worse.

- "It is burning between 18 and 189."

- Two strike teams are on their way to Twin Peaks; maybe a third from Highland. Working on getting a total of 5.

- Strategizing is going now at the high school.

- 2 strike teams working their way to Rim Forest.

- There is fighting at the Lumber Yard.

- The pace of the fire at some points is "laying down" for now.

A firefighter covers his mouth as a wildfire burns in the

distance on Highway 118 in Simi Valley, California

(AFP/Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)

Firefighter takes a nap as a wildfire approaches in Chatsworth, California.

Wildfires continue to rage out of control in Los Angeles, San Bernardino,

San Diego and Ventura counties threatening thousands of homes and leaving

at least 15 people dead(AFP/Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)

A firefighter sets a controled fire to a hillside to burn off brush in an attempt

to keep a wildfire from spreading in Lakeside, Calif. Monday night, Oct 27, 2003

. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Update to previously-posted weblog segment as of 12:50am:

- Generally, if something''s happening, you''ll hear it... scanner is constantly switching frequencies looking for chatter. The fact that we haven''t mentioned structures burning in Twin Peaks is probably a good sign. I did hear one mention that it was burning down the back of Strawberry Peak though... Firefighters travelling on 189 because 18 is blocked by a downed tree will hopefully see the flames and get in position to save homes in Twin Peaks. It sounds like the order of threat will be: Bear Springs Road, Lake View Lane, Glen View Lane, then Peak Road and Balsam Lane. All kinds of firefighters are travelling along 189, so we gotta hope they keep it from crossing that at least. [Daniel,12:43 AM]

A firefighter watches a controlled fire which was set on a hillside to burn off brush in an attempt to keep a wildfire from spreading in Lakeside, Calif., Monday night, Oct 27, 2003. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

A Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter prepares to battle a wildfire along the118 Freeway in Simi Valley, Calif., Monday, Oct. 27, 2003. (AP Photo/The Ventura County Star, Matt McClain

Paul Carey, of the San Pasqual Fire Department, battles a wildfire in Valley Center, Calif., Monday, Oct. 27, 2003. (AP Photo/Tim Tadder)

I'm going to bed. (No, this isn't news, but it's pertinent anyhow.) This means that I cannot make any updates from this point (1:16am PST) onward until I've managed to rouse myself again... and I've got some sleep to catch up on. :)

I will likely be starting a new news-only fire thread as soon as I'm awake enough to do so. Until I do, however, please do continue to post updated news on this thread.

Many thanks for your support tonight. Updated list of fires will start the next thread. Goodnight!

One last update before bed. (Yes, yes, I'm really going.) This is again from the blog mentioned in previous posts.
---

Updates from 1:25am

The fight of Twin Peaks and Rim Forest.
Scanners have slowed; still waiting for any new posts.
They are trying to bring MORE crews up.

- There are some residents who refuse to leave. This is dangerous. The authorities need their name, DOB, and dentist.

- "Horseshoe has started, and is working well." (anyone explain that term?)

- Trying to confirm reports about The Depot Station...

- The high school is still the HQ.

- Moving on from the Lumber Yard to the Tire Shop (Pine Ave area).

Updates from Rim High teacher's web blog:

Updates since 2:42am (PDT)

The fight of Twin Peaks and Rim Forest.
Scanners have slowed; still waiting for any new posts.
They are trying to bring MORE crews up.

- LA teams arrived to help; need coordination though.

- Update from scanner: Pine Lane, structures are still threatened. When fire originally hit RimForest and Twin Peaks, it was raging. They are checking out the properties by the nursery (code 4). They are working on Blackfoot East to get familiar with the terrain, help keep the fire at/off the ridge.

- There were positive remarks about progress on the scanner, but it was unclear if it was for Twin Peaks/Rim Forest/18 or San Diego. At times, the fire on route Interstate 8 and 79 steps over the signals here. Please confirm (email me).

- 7 total strike teams will be fighting this evening. The rest are coming up now via 330 (from camp). Make that 8 now. Some could not sleep, so they will keep on fighting. Three type-3 strikes are included, especially for structure protection.

- I heard the first update... a chief said he just drove 189 ''all the way down'' and the fire hadn''t crossed it at all, and it was ''holding at the top of the ridge'' -- presumably near Strawberry Peak." [Daniel]

- Another message board to use: http://cafires.proboards23.com/index.cgi
- Satellite picture link for OSEI Image.

- 18 is blocked by a landslide; all equipment has to come up 330.

- "just spoke to a deputy, He went by Ultimar about 25 minutes ago and it was still ok; fire teams fighting. Twin peaks is still ok at the police station as well as homes on Sun Set." [message board]

- There are some residents who refuse to leave. This is dangerous. The authorities need their name, DOB, and dentist. 4 guys are trying to get to Twin Peaks from 18. They are being "snagged" now by CHP. The men said they were hiking down from Big Bear.

EVACUATION OF EAST HIGHLAND AREA

From: San Bernardino County Fire Department

This is an Emergency Alert System Message from the San Bernardino
County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Because of the potential
danger of the Old Fire, authorities and the San Bernardino County
Sheriff.s Department have initiated a mandatory evacuation of the
following area: East of Highland Avenue and North of Church Street in
the East Highland area.

American Red Cross Shelter site at the San Bernardino International
Airport (Norton). To access the Shelter site, enter the airport from
3rd Street and Del Rosa Avenue.

For more information contact:
Contact the United States Forest Service Information Line at: 909/
383-5688.

EDIS-10-27-03 1904 PST

Rim High teacher's web blog update:

Updates since 3:05am (PDT)

The fight of Twin Peaks and Rim Forest.
Scanners have slowed; still waiting for any new posts.
They are trying to bring MORE crews up.

- They are trying to "knock down" a flare up in Rim Forest (toward the ridge off of Pine).

- Running Springs section of the fire is still active and near, if not touching, 330.

- LA teams arrived to help; need coordination though.

- Update from scanner: Pine Lane, structures are still threatened. When fire originally hit RimForest and Twin Peaks, it was raging. They are checking out the properties by the nursery (code 4). They are working on Blackfoot East to get familiar with the terrain, help keep the fire at/off the ridge.

Beyond the flames…

Nick Christensen, 10, left, comforts his cousin Kristen Brinkley, 10,
as they visit their grandparent's charred home in Crest,Tuesday. The
home was among those lost in wildfires east of San Diego.

Linda Ball salvages collectables from her burned-out home in Crest
on Tuesday. The home which she moved into two months ago was
among those lost in wildfires east of San Diego.

A tattered U.S. flag is about all that is left of this destroyed home in Crest.

Jay Starkey, left, helps his brother-in-law Brett Nelson, carry a cast
iron stove from the charred remains of his home in Crest.

A resident of the rural community of Crest, sits with her head down
after walking past burned out structures early Tuesday.

Paige Christensen, 7, looks through the charred remains of
her family's home in Crest.

Jeanne Christensen, right, is comforted by her daughter Sabrina Emberton as
Christensen returns to her charred home in Crest on Tuesday. Christensen's
home of 35 years was among those lost in wildfires east of San Diego.

Juliet Miller wears a mask to filter the air as she walks through the debris of her
parents home in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego Tuesday.

Ash covers a swimming pool as the ruins of a house smolder on Tuesday, in the
rural San Diego community of Crest.

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