Posted on 10/21/2007 9:48:36 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
UPDATE: The city of Malibu is advising residents in Puerco Canyon to begin evacuating due to a wildfire driven by powerful winds. This area is north of Pacific Coast Highway and about 1 mile west of Pepperdine University. Residents along the beach on Malibu Road may soon be evacuated. Pacific Coast Highway is closed between Kanan-Dume Road and Topanga Canyon. Residents are advised to head to the west. Evacuation centers are being set up in the Zuma Beach area.
A wildfire driven by powerful winds in the Malibu Hills this morning threatened a university, destroyed at least one home and forced the evacuation of hundreds more, authorities said.
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| Related Stories | |
| - | Wildfire burns 500 acres near Interstate 5 |
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| - | Santa Ana winds are sweeping the region |
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Thanks for the map!
Yeah, you’re right. I guess there is a lot of city between the Fallbrook fire and the Santa Clarita fires. Evacuees wouldn’t have to go too far north to get out of the fire zone. We drive it all the time, it doesn’t seem that far to me.
Thanks. Dictionary Hill is too close to where my brother lives. Are you listening to the guy on KPBS?
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More from San Diego Emergency:
10-23-07 3:12 a.m. Mandatory reverse 911 calls have been issued for North Jamul and Indian Springs. The fire is located near Hwy 94. The evacuation center for this area is Qualcomm Stadium. Reverse 911 calls have been made to 1,549 residents.
I was listening to KPBS, but I thought I heard they were turning it over to NPR so I disconnected to try to listen to KOGO... and haven’t been able to connect, LOL. Is KPBS still covering the fire?
Oh yes, they’re taking calls from people in different locations.
Two callers now saying that they have not received the reversed 911 calls.
Chief engineer for KPBS phoned in, concerned about Mt. St. Miguel, Western side of Mountain has burned as much as it is going to burn, but the Eastern side of the Mountain is still at risk from flying embers.
Another caller phoned in convinced that Dictionary Hill was at great risk.
Oceanside caller phoning in asking if there was a way to stay updated without listening to radio 24 hours a day.
Fire Info Line: 619-590-3160
maintained by Cal Fire. They’re asking for your patience in getting through that line and getting updated information.
I'm learning a lot about emergencies. Apparently reverse 911 will not go to cell phones. They will also not go to internet based phone services like Vonage.
The Cal Fire website has said for hours that they are having problems and have posted only a summary level status on the front page. I think this is a relatively new service--too bad they weren't better prepared for an emergency but hopefully they're workin' on it.
Callers into KPBS in Lemon Grove: (transcribed)
Pointe Parkway to Destiny Mt. Court in Spring Valley now under mandatory evacuation order.
West of Mt. San Miguel will be seeing a lot of smoke.
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Confirming with San Diego Emergency Services:
There is a small area of Spring Valley - Jamacha/Pointe Parkway, mandatory evacuation reverse calls have been made.
Wind out there, no measurement yet. Firefighters are too busy to call.
South and East of Jamacha now. Northeast corner of Sweetwater Reservoir.
Q. What about Dictionary Hill? The caller we had is certain that Dictionary Hill is at great risk?
A. Can’t predict the wind. Situation - if someone doesn’t feel comfortable, they should go someplace where they will. Don’t wait around for your neighbors, or for your reverse 911 message.
Q. You said there were 1,000 reverse 911 calls made. How do you now reconcile such a small area in Spring Valley.
A. New information.
Q. Is this a new fire - this Indian Springs fire?
A. I don’t see that it’s connected to the Harris fire, although it could be.
Reverse 911 calls going out in
1) Wildcat Canyon area.
2) East of Jamacha in Jamul area.
3) Housing area South of Jamacha Blvd. and Pointe Parkway, Destiny Mt. Court - Western edge of area between Jamacha Blvd. and Mt. San Miguel.
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Reports of flames seen East of Miramar Rd. travelling South passing Miramar Way, north of 52.
I wish there were something like this up in L.A. Also KPBS is doing a great job covering all the details of the fires down there.
According to caller on KPBS, we’re in the middle of meteor showers right now. Not very good timing.
Caller says he’s watching fire go up Mount San Miguel near the transmitter tower for KPBS.
Fire moving toward Jamacha Blvd. area.
Witch Fire is dwarfing Harris Fire, according to KPBS announcer.
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Witch Creek News as of midnight from the blog:
“Cal Fire Capt. Don Campo ran down the boundaries of the fire evacuation areas, as of about midnight (but mind you, this is changing as we write this):
Evacuation borders range from Julian Road/Highway 78 at the east and El Capitan Reservoir south toward Old Highway 80, northeast from Lake Henshaw , west toward Lake Wohlford in Valley Center and Buena Creek in the San Marcos/Vista area and to Route 78 at Melrose Drive in Vista.
There are proposed evacuations for Del Mar Heights and Route 56 to Black Mountain Road, Miramar Road, Pomerado and Scripps-Poway Parkway.”
Flare-ups have been reported in the areas of Honey Springs, Deerhorn Valley, Dulzura and Aqua Tibia. Fire officials said the winds are picking up and the Harris fire is moving west. The fire has burned to the base of Mount San Miguel and is heading toward Bonita and the back side of Chula Vista.
The East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility in the Otay area is preparing to evacuate all detainees to the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility.
Meanwhile, winds are picking up in the Wildcat Canyon area because of the Witch fire. Fire officials are on trying to get a handle of the flames but residents there have been ordered to evacuate to Santana High School.
Great, thanks. I wonder if they would cover the fires up here if we asked nicely. :)
Aww gee, KABC Channel 7 is on live now. Reporter at Green Valley Lake.
Fox11 is showing live photos of all the fires.
I feel for all those affected though I am 2400 miles or so NW of all this (Alaska), hopefully after this is over there will be new laws, equipment and tactics available to form a broad area attack on fires like this.
On a sinister note I was also idly thinking that a group of terrorists could easily roam around Socal setting loose small airborne incendiary devices like hydrogen balloons and thermite sticks, the japanese actually succeeded in a few places in the northwest during WW2 in launching rice paper balloons across the pacific ocean.
In the end its still up to us as individuals to be prepared for any natural and most UNnatural disasters.
Foothill Ranch (Santiago fire) is looking ugly.
“Immediate and mandatory” evacuations were ordered at 2AM for 1000 residents in the Majestic Canyon area.
Reporter is in Del Mar covering SD county. Showing Rancho Bernardo tape.
Earlier they showed Stevenson Ranch flames. Canyon Country mobile home park does look like where my friend lives.
Wind picking up now. Some areas in San Diego expecting 100 degrees + temperatures today.
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Winds forecast from Garth Kemp:
20 mph + sustained winds
Gusts up to 60 mph today through early afternoon.
Malibu will have a cooldown with 17% humidity.
New Fire near Canyon Country
reported, not yet confirmed by CHP
Incident: 0242 Type: Structure or Grass Fire Location:
PLACERITA CANYON RD JWO NB SR14 Zoom Map: 4641 1D info as of: 10/23/2007 4:19:56 AM
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
4:17AM PER CITIZENS RPT TO 146 - FIRE GETTING CLOSE TO A HOUSING COMPLEX
RESPONDING OFFICERS STATUS
4:17AM CHP Unit Enroute
4:19AM CHP Unit Assigned
What a nightmare for those living in the region! Prayers for those at risk.
I may be leaving here to see if I can be of assistance to the OCFA/Irvine.
Cya
Prayers continuing here. Watching it on GMA now. Hell on earth. 700 homes destroyed. 500,000 people evac’ed. Still one fatality, but 3 ff’s critical. Showing the embers flying everywhere with no barriers - so easy to see in the dark.
They’re concentrating on Rancho Bernardo in SD. They showed a fire tornado a while ago. Just so many horrifying phenomena. Today to be the worst day.
Qualcomm Stadium has enough everything to keep everyone for a week. All hotels, motels throughout area are full.
Sorry if repeating things you all already know - just making notes on what they’re saying.
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