Replies

From http://www.sannet.gov/newsflash/firealert.shtml

City of San Diego Emergency Fire Information
Last updated October 27, 2003, 7:30 p.m.

URGENT! In order to maintain enough water pressure to fight fires, residents MUST CONTINUE to conserve water. Use only what is absolutely necessary for health, cooking or for fire suppression. This is an urgent situation and we need the cooperation of all City of San Diego residents and businesses.

A major fire in the City of San Diego is threatening public safety and property in the Scripps Ranch community.

Please stay indoors and keep your windows shut. Curtail strenuous activities and breathe through a damp cloth if needed. Stay off the roads. Please stay tuned to local television or radio stations for immediate updates. If you are asked to evacuate, please do so immediately.

State Fire Map
To view a map of statewide fire activity created from satellite imagery, please click on the web link listed below.

http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/archive/cgb2003300_0700.jpg

EVACUATION CENTERS/HOTLINE
The evacuated area is primarily in Scripps Ranch. Residents of Tierrasanta and San Carlos have been cleared to return to their homes. Only residents with proof of residency in those communities will be allowed in. The San Diego Fire Department will make the determination about when it is safe for residents to return to Scripps Ranch. Police and fire officials will not allow residents to return to their homes until they are confident that it is safe to do so.

There are two official Red Cross evacuation centers in the City of San Diego. They are:

Balboa Park Activity Center, 2145 Park Blvd in Balboa Park
Mira Mesa High School, 10510 Reagan Road in Mira Mesa
*** Qualcomm Stadium is NOT an official Red Cross evacuation center. Evacuees are asked to go to one of the above listed locations only.

Transit Services
The San Diego bus and trolley system is running normal service today in light of the area's fire emergency. Some bus routes are being detoured due to fire-related road closures. A list of transit detours is available on the transit website at www.sdcommute.com and also at transitosandiego.com.

The Regional Telephone Information Office is also open at 1-800-COMMUTE or 619-233-3004.

YMCA
All YMCAs in San Diego County are open with the exception of the Cameron Family YMCA in Santee. The Cameron Family YMCA is not open because of a power outage.

Any victims, volunteers, rescue workers or members of the media in need of a shower or place to freshen up can go to any one of the YMCAs throughout San Diego County.

For the location of the YMCA near you, please consult your yellow pages or visit www.YMCA.org or call (858) 292-4034.

Donations
No more donations of food or other items can be handled at the Balboa Park Activity Center. Anyone with donations is asked to take them to the St. Vincent de Paul store at 16th and Market.

Community Access Phone System
The City's Community Access Phone System (CAPS) has been activated at 619-570-1070. The CAPS line is for people to call for information about evacuation centers and other general information about the current status of the situation. The people who answer the phones will not have information about specific individuals and where they might be or whether specific homes/adresses have been burned.

INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICES FOR THE WEEK OF OCT. 27, 2003
City Council meeting has been cancelled until further notice.
Building inspections will be available Tuesday for construction projects. Inspections will more than likely take place within 48 hours instead of the usual 24 hours.
The Development Services Permit Center and Inspection Offices at Ridgehaven will both be open on Tuesday.
Trash pickup will be delayed by one day the entire week (holiday schedule).
All City facilities will be closed, including, but not limited to the following:

City Council Offices
Community Service Centers
Inspection Field Office at Ridgehaven
Libraries
Permit Center
Planning Department
Recreation centers
Swimming pools
Torrey Pines and Balboa golf courses
INFORMATION FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES
All non-essential City of San Diego employees should NOT report to work, but should check with their supervisors on Tuesday morning.

Police Department
City of San Diego Police Department patrol officers who are responding to a call-back should follow these instructions:

If you live north of Northeastern Division, report to Northeastern Division.
If you live south of Highway 52, respond to your normal area station or to Traffic Division on Aero Road.
Water Department
All Water Operations personnel SHOULD report to work as scheduled.

American Red Cross
The American Red Cross advises that persons wishing to donate money to the fire disaster relief fund can call 1-800-HELPNOW or log on to their web site at www.sdarc.org/disaster. The Red Cross is not set up to accept donations of food. Volunteers are urgently needed. If you are able to volunteer, contact the Red Cross at the listed phone number.

Utilities
SDG&E is asking citizens to conserve energy any way they can, unless it is absolutely necessary for the elderly, the young, or those impacted by smoke. If air conditioners must be used for these reasons, set the temperature to a higher setting than normal. Further information is available at www.sdge.com. Also, to ensure continued water pressure in all areas, citizens are asked to conserve waster unless it is needed for fire suppression, cooking or health reasons. Businesses and residents are encouraged to shut down their irrigation systems during this emergency.

SDG&E is asking the public NOT to call 9-1-1 to report downed power lines or no electricity. The number to call is: 1-800-411-SDGE.
San Diego Unified School District Update
All San Diego City Schools will be closed Tuesday, October 28. This decision was made in part because of unhealthy air quality for students. There are no 6 to 6 programs.

Emergency Day care is available at the following middle schools:

Challenger Middle
Dana Middle
Keiller Middle
Kroc Middle
Marston Middle
Muirlands Middle
Pacific Beach Middle
Roosevelt Middle
Standley Middle
Taft Middle

The school district has established a hotline (619) 725-5578 for any questions. The Hotline is open until further notice.

If your child attends a parochial school or district outside the City of San Diego, please check with that school or district's administration offices.

EMERGENCY PET PREPAREDNESS
Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS) is asking all pet owners who may be affected by the fire to put together a pet emergency kit in case of evacuation. For more information please call FOCAS voice mail at 619-685-3536 and a FOCAS volunteer will return your call.

Current City of San Diego Road Closures
State Route 52 between I-15 and State Route 125 is still closed.
For more information, go to www.chp.ca.gov.

Federal, State and County Courts
All courts will be closed on Tuesday.