Posted on 10/22/2007 9:59:31 AM PDT by Smogger
9:03 a.m.: Fires in Lake Arrowhead prompt evacuations
By Stacia Glenn
LAKE ARROWHEAD - Two fires are raging in the mountains, forcing hundreds of people from their homes. A wildfire started at 5 a.m. in Grass Valley just north of Lake Arrowhead and has burned more than 100 acres. Mandatory evacuations are in place for Deer Lodge Park, north of Aleutian Drive; and all streets north of Brentwood Drive.
There are voluntary evacuations for North Lake Arrowhead, along Grass Valley Road, Twin Peaks and Rim Forest.
A second fire, dubbed the Slide Fire, broke out in Green Valley Lake, where there is also a mandatory evacuation.
All highways west of Big Bear Dam are closed.
9:27 a.m.: Fire ecologist: Wind stirred Butler II fire
By George Watson
UCR Riverside Prof. Richard Minnich said it appears the Butler II wildfire has restarted because of the winds. "It looks like there are two prongs moving southwest," Minnich said. "One is by (Big Bear )Dam, and the other is near Green Valley Lake where the fire stopped before."
Making his assessments by viewing satellite imagery, Minnich said he is particularly concerned about Running Springs. Wind could push it through the footprint of the 1970 Bear Fire, Minnich said, and then on to that community.
"If it reaches Running Springs, that whole town is in trouble," he said.
With so many fires burning throughout Southern California today, Minnich added, "Hundreds of homes are going to burn today. Right now, the issue is the firefighters are spread too thinly."
(Excerpt) Read more at dailybulletin.com ...
I am not.
They've already done that to most of the newer subdivision, with green belts etc. But the bottom line is, these wind blown wild fires can carry burning embers for "miles".
That's how these fires hop scotch around all over the place so rapidly. Once embers get into one home, the entire neighborhood can go, all generated by the Santa Ana winds
I will...and I’ll keep an eye on my sources for breaking news.
I think I understand now. Thanks.
Note to self.
Never move to California.
The wildfires in the San Bernardino Mountains are now the highest resource priority in Southern California, according to Tracey Martinez, spokeswoman for the county fire department.
there is at least a half hour delay in facts going out over the scanner and being reported...at least for Santa Clarita...I am emailing my sis in law and she is forwarding them to some moms group up there.
Ha!
>>>The wildfires in the San Bernardino Mountains are now the highest resource priority in Southern California, according to Tracey Martinez, spokeswoman for the county fire department.
There are no resources left in CA.
Yeah, it's not for the weak at heart, and can offer the best, the worst, the most beautiful, and the most scary.
Not too many dull moments...That's probably why I love it.
With more than a dozen fires raging in Southern California, local firefighters' efforts to stymie two mountain blazes are strained by limited resources.
"It does affect resources," said Tracey Martinez, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department. "It definitely affects the ability to get equipment in here quickly."
A strike team of county firefighters was heading to Los Angeles County to battle wildfires in Malibu, but the crews were diverted when fires erupted in the San Bernardino Mountains, Martinez said.
The fires that have scorched dozens of homes in Lake Arrowhead are now a top priority among the many blazes in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties, Martinez said.
"We'll pulling more firefighters from outside of our county," she said. "Every available firefighter that we can release is working this fire. At the same time, we have to make sure the rest of the county is safe." The fact that Gov. Arnold Schwarzegger declared San Bernardino County a disaster area along with several other counties in the state, should speed the delivery of reinforcements to the mountains, officials said.
"We'll start filling our orders for resources and equipment a lot faster," Martinez said. "They are bringing resourcs as quickly as possible from as far away as possible." But the gusty winds continue to plague efforts to bring in aircraft to douse the flames.
"With 60 to 70 mile per hour winds, it's not just safe," Martinez said. "Once the winds die down, we'll get our aircraft up as quickly as possible." -- Stephen Wall
Due to high winds, there is currently no air support on the Grass Valley Fire near Lake Arrowhead. Winds are gusting up to 60 to 70 miles per hour.
The lack of air support has made it difficult for firefighters to estimate the acreage of the fire.
- Jason Pesick, jason.pesick@sbsun.com
usfs was ordering from texas 2 days ago....
Air and ground support is lacking in many venues now.
Very unfortunate.
They are starting to pull in out of state help. That means it’s really bad. I suspect hubby will be marking himself available in ROSS today.
Part of the problem with air support is the wind, not just spread thin resources.
News from Rim of the World:
http://www.rimoftheworld.net/
All Mountain Roads Closed
Update: 12:40 PM
Crestline - The California Highway Patrol has closed all mountain roadways, including Highway 18, 330, 138, and 173, to non-emergency upbound traffic. Evacuees are being sent to the Orange Show Fairgrounds, 689 S. E St. San Bernardino, CA, 92408.
Highway 18 is closed between Big Bear Dam and Running Springs and in Rimforest.
Rimforest Fire
Update 12:57 PM
A fire has been reported in Rimforest near Scenic and Valley View. The fire is about 1/2 acre with a slow rate of spread. The fire appears to be inside the area of Sunday’s fire.
Crest Forest Fire Department is unable to respond to threatened structures within their jurisdiction, however it is not clear from the scanner chatter where the threat is occurring.
Homes Lost in Lake Arrowhead Area
Update 1:15 PM
Lake Arrowhead - Shortly before 1 PM, the fire was reported near Fairway and Eldorado. Firefighter are concerned about the fire spreading past that point into the Twin Peaks area. Firefighters are also reporting water pressure problems near Sonoma and Black Oak.
There are multiple reports of structures on fire on Brentwood and Pinehurst in Lake Arrowhead and near Grass Valley Golf Course. Accoring to television news reports, at least 30 homes have been lost. Earlier today residents called 9-1-1 reporting that their homes are on fire. Dispatchers could only them to evacuate. At the time, there were insufficient fire fighting resources in the area to extinguish the structure fires. At 9:45 AM, a flare up was reported in the Deer Lodge Park area sending up a large smoke plume. At 9:53 AM, a resident reported fire at the rear of residences along the 26000-block of Amador Lane in Lake Arrowhead with no firefighters nearby. Firefighters near Amador and Trinity were driven back by the fire and had to retreat to a safe zone. The fire is crossing Brentwood as of 10:03 AM. The next threat is to Sandalwood.
1,500 residences are threatened in the Lake Arrowhead area, according to officials.
Evacuations have been ordered for parts of Grass Valley, Trinity Tract, Modoc, Dear Lodge, Black Oaks Drive, and Brentwood in Lake Arrowhead. A voluntary evacuation has been ordered for the Twin Peaks area. There are reports of large “milk carton sized” embers falling in the Twin Peaks area.
The fire is burning in the old wood chipping area along Highway 173 and spreading westward. Structure protection task forces are in the Brentwood, Sanoma, and Trinity areas of Lake Arrowhead.
Grass Valley Road is closed at Five Points. Many roads are blocked in the area due to downed power lines and tree. Downed phone lines are preventing residents from being notified of the evacuations from the automated TENS calling system.
As of 9 AM, the fire was reported to be about 200 acres in size with a rapid rate of spread and no containment. It is burning to the northwest side of Grass Valley Road and the northwest side of Edge Cliff Drive near the power plant area, according to scanner reports. The fire is well established in an inaccessible area of the Grass Valley drainage. The fire was first reported shortly after 5 AM.
Green Valley
Foxnews national channel has been showing a reporter in San Diego County,...Rancho Bernardo area...wandered around in a deserted residence area ...with a House burning and no Fire Fighters in sight....says she has seen hundreds of homes going up....firefighters have a glazed look in their eyes and are totally exhausted....
Good report. This is going to be a total disaster. I can’t remember when the last time they closed ALL Mountain roads. The County/CDF can’t get any air resources in to even ESTIMATE how many acres have burned. Anyone who has been to Arrowhead can tell you the whole thing could go up.
I would blame the news media for focusing all of their coverage on Malibu, but they probably can’t even get any choppers over to look at the Arrowhead area, due to wind.
I believe it. When there are no strike teams to deploy, it is house to house....but when I firestorm hits, you cant do anything.
I need confirmation on this, but an LA Sheriff deputy was on the radio saying SAN FRANCISCO FIRE just up and left when the flames crested the hill....this is west of Castaic....if its true I will crack up.
California National Guard aircraft on stand-by to fight wildfires
CALIFORNIA - Five California National Guard (CNG) helicopters have been requested by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Office of Emergency Services Sunday to support numerous Southern California wildfires that have already forced approximately 150,000 Californians to evacuate their homes.
Fire in Devore
The Cajon Fire erupted in Devore around 11:30 a.m., said Pam Bierce, a fire information officer with the San Bernardino National Forest.
It’s at more than 100 acres, burning west of the 215/15 interchange. More than 150 firefighters are battling the blaze.
Winds are blowing at 40-to-50 miles per hour, with gusts reaching 70 miles per hour.
No evacuations have been ordered, Bierce said.
There are reports of power outages in Lytle Creek but those have not been confirmed, she said.
A command post is set up at Station 2 in Devore.
As it has been in the mountains, it’s too windy to use aircraft.
The cause is under investigation, she said.
— Will Bigham
Heck they are running out of good fire names, choosing to call the fire in the Cajon pass the “Cajon fire”
Posted by George Watson at 01:17 PM
More fires a breaking out all over:
Firefighters rushing to San Bernardino blaze
A brush fire has ignited on Little Mountain Road south of Shandin Hills Middle School. San Bernardino city firefighters received a report of the blaze about 1:30 p.m.
I have seen video from News choppers showing the Lake Arrowhead fires...I think...
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