Old fire update from
http://www.incidentcontrol.com :
Old Fire updated at 1:13 am 10-29-03
Mandatory and immediate evacuation for the communities:
Summit Valley, Telephone Canyon & Las Flores area
Big Bear Valley, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, Blue Jay, Twin Peaks, Cedar Pines, Skyforest, Seven Oaks, Angelus Oaks, Running Springs, Arrowbear, Cedar Glen, Rim Forest, Green Valley Lake
North San Bernardino, Forest Falls, Mountain Home Village
For evacuees with animals: Apple Valley Animal Shelter
Horsemen's Center, 24320 Highway 18, Apple Valley
760-240-7000 x7555
Residents coming to Hesperia shelters can take their animals to the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville.
Mandatory evacuations have been lifted for:
North/East Del Rosa
East Highlands Ranch
Yucaipa - Muscoy
American Red Cross has set up Shelter sites for evacuees in Hesperia at the
following High Schools: Sultana High School, 17311 Sultana Ave.
Hesperia High School 9898 Maple Avenue
San Bernardino International Airport. (To access the Shelter site, enter the
airport from 3rd Street and Del Rosa Avenue.)
American Red Cross also opened a shelter at Apple Valley High School, 11837
Navajo Road, Apple Valley.
For more information call 909-383-5688 or 909-355-8800
San Bernardino National Forest closed to all visitors
Angeles National Forest closed to all visitors
Significant Events:
County offers $50,000 reward for wildfire arsonist
Generous resident adds $10,000 to reward fund
The County of San Bernardino is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people who intentionally set the Old Fire, which has so far burned more than 32,000 acres, destroyed more than 500 homes, and led to the deaths of at least two people.
"The murderer who set this fire has created an unimaginable amount of terror and suffering. This arsonist needs to be removed from society and punished for the devastation that has occurred," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Dennis Hansberger.
Chairman Hansberger announced the reward during a televised news conference today. Within moments, a county resident viewing the broadcast contacted Chairman Hansberger's office and added $10,000 to the reward fund. Others interested in doing so can contact Liz Thomas in Chairman Hansberger's office at (909) 387-4855.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is leading the arson investigation, which because of the deaths has been elevated to a murder investigation. The department has released an artist's sketch of one of the suspects based on witness accounts. He is a white male in his early to mid 20s who was traveling in a 2000 or 2001 light gray Chevrolet or Dodge van with a full rear window. The fire was set on Saturday morning on Old Waterman Canyon Road.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Sgt. Bobby Dean with the Sheriff's Department Homicide Detail at (909) 387-3589 or toll-free at 1-866-346-7632.
On October 27, 2003, President Bush declared a major disaster for the State of California, triggering the release of federal funds to help people and communities recover from the Wildfires that occurred October 21, 2003, and continuing. Toll-free Teleregistration number for disaster victims: 1-800-621-FEMA, TTD 1-800-462-7585.
The Grand Prix and Old fire have merged with the total fire front along the urban interface of 40 miles. (This does not mean that active burning is taking place on all 40 miles.)
The Playground Fire is now a part of the Old Fire and is no longer a separate fire.
SCE spokesman Steve Conroy states that SCE has lost 2 main transmission lines feeding the mountain top communities. Running Springs, Crestline & mountain top communities in that area are without power. It may be out for up to 48 hours.
Acres: 36,780 + acres
American Red Cross
• Residents in Old Fire areas call: Inland Empire Red Cross 909-888-1481
• Residents in Grand Prix Fire areas call: Inland Valley Red Cross 909-986-6651
For any fire Red Cross Toll Free: 1-866-GET-INFO
Blood Need
Due to the fires surrounding San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, there is an urgent need for blood. The Blood Bank has had to cancel a number of scheduled blood drives due to the evacuation of the areas that these blood drives were going to be held. In addition, due to the problems with air travel, they have been unable to fly in blood from other areas. For these reasons, ARMC will be hosting an emergency blood drive tomorrow, October 28, 7:30 - 5 PM, in ARMC's Oak Room. You can also make a blood donation at any of the donor centers located throughout San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. If you would like any additional information, please contact the Blood Bank at 1-800-879-4484.
Boil Water Order....
Due to the recent fire, the California Department of Health services, in conjunction with the San Bernardino County Health Department and East Valley Water District are advising all residents of the following service areas:
North of Foothill and Piedmont Drive between Manzanita Drive on the West and Willow Drive on the East. San Manuel Indian Reservation, all residents living along Victoria Avenue, north of Indian Service Road to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution. All tap water used for drinking or cooking should be boiled rapidly for at least one minute. This is the preferred method to assure that the water is safe to drink.
Cause: Arson (see CHP Dispatch Log - see 9:59 am postings)
Closures
Subject to change at any time.
• San Bernardino National Forest closed to all visitors
• Angeles National Forest closed to all visitors
Concerns: The fire is burning in an area that has heavy brush and timber and is steep, rugged and inaccessible.
Containment: 10 % containment. Expected containment date unknown.
Cost To Date: $3,658,291
Damage
Structure Loss: 500 total (including 300 in City of San Bernardino, 150 unincorporated, 10 Waterman Canyon, 27 Crestline, 9 Devore, 4 Devore Heights, 10 Commercial) - Also properties at the Del Rosa Forest Fire Station and Cal State San Bernardino.
All structure damage & loss reports are handled by the police or sheriff authority, where the structure is located. Not the Red Cross.
The State of California Insurance Commissioner has established an information line for the public to use for questions on insurance-related matters. The toll-free number is 1-800-927-HELP. Information is also available on the Internet at www.insurance.ca.gov
Equipment: 199 engines, 44 hand crews, 27 dozers, 42 water tenders, 15 helicopters
Evacuated people: 60,000
IMPORTANT EVACUATION INFORMATION:
Due to the unsafe conditions caused by fire-damaged utility lines, gas, water leaks and high windy conditions, no residents will be allowed back into the evacuation area until further notice. Assessment teams will be canvassing the areas Sunday morning to determine damages to residences. Assessment information may not be available until late Wednesday, 10/29.
American Red Cross Shelter site is set up to receive evacuees at Sultana High School at 17311 Sultana Street (cross street of I Street) in Hesperia. There is an additional Shelter site at the Passenger Terminal at San Bernardino International Airport (Norton).
Mountain residents of Crestline/Arrowhead area that are being evacuated to shelters in the City of Hesperia are to take their household pets to the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in the city of Victorville. Although managed by Animal Control, pets are being looked after by caring volunteers 24 hours a day.
Flight Restrictions
FAA FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) 91.137 has been placed around the fire area restricting non-fire related aircraft movement. The restriction will remain in place until all fire activity ceases.
Fuel: Heavy brush, grass with timber component in upper reaches of watershed.
Incident Command
Initial Incident Commander: Mick McCormick
Injuries: 25 total - The two injuries were a 3rd degree burn to the calf and a 2nd degree burn to the lower back.
2 confirmed deaths of seniors related to stress
Location
Start Latitude:34° 10´ 42"
Longitude:117° 16´ 42"
Fire origin was on Old Waterman Road & Hwy 18
Observed Fire Behavior Rapid rates of spread with spotting. The fire made runs to the west and threatened the town of Devore. The wind continues to move the fire to the East and West and then when the wind dies or the fire is sheltered it will make uphill runs.
Personnel: 1,632
Priorities
• To provide for public and firefighter safety and protection of property.
• Keep the public informed about fire activity and evacuations.
• Minimize the impact of fire suppression efforts on the forest.
School Info
Bear Valley Unified: all schools closed 10/29
Colton Joint Unified: all schools closed 10/29
Mt. Baldy Joint: all schools closed - until further notice
Redlands Unified: all schools closed 10/29 Click Here
Rialto Unified: all schools closed for the rest of the week, will reopen 11/03
Rim of the World Unified: all schools closed - until further notice
San Bernardino City Unified: all schools closed through 10/29
Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified: all schools closed 10/29
Chaffey Community College: main campus and off campus sites in Chino, Fontana, and Ontario closed 10/28, will reopen 10/29
California State University, San Bernardino: closed through 10/28, will reopen 10/29
For regular updates regarding school and districts closures, visit the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Web site or call Communications at (909) 386-2413.
Redlands Unified School District - Closed 10-29-03
Special
Southern California Edison has announced that it may take the unprecedented step of shutting down power in bark beetle-infested forests in San Bernardino and Riverside counties under hazardous conditions of high, sustained winds and low humidity. SCE’s new protective outage policy is an extraordinary precautionary measure to reduce the risk to lives and property.
It affects some 31,000 SCE customers in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains, where more than a million trees are dead or dying. When high winds strike the bark beetle-infested forest, weakened tree limbs and other material
are more likely to fall or get blown into SCE facilities. This could result in wildfires. Depending on the duration of these conditions, outages could last from several hours to several days.
Intensive communication efforts are underway to notify affected customers, property owners, public safety agencies, legislators and other parties regarding the need to implement this unprecedented safety measure.
Structures Threatened
Residences Threatened: 50,000
Commercial Properties Threatened: 2,000
Agencies Involved
CDF, US Forest Service, California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County Fire Department, Southern California Edison, Dept of Corrections, San Bernardino Sheriff, Red Cross, Animal Shelter, San Bernardino City Fire Department, OES, Caltrans, Southern California Gas Company
Contact Forest Service Information Number 909-383-5688
San Bernardino County Information number 909-355-8800