From CAL Fire (via KPBS). I couldn’t catch it all, but this was the latest status just reported:
• Harris Fire: 22,000 acres burned. 5% contained. 500 homes lost.
• McCoy Fire: 300 acres burned. 50% contained.
• Rice Fire (Fallbrook): 1500 acres burned, 50 homes lost, 30 damaged. All of Fallbrook - evacuated.
• Witch Fire: 145,000 acres burned. 100% UNcontained. 500 homes, 100 commercial structures, 50 outbuildings lost. 250 buildings damaged.
10-23-07, 1:57 a.m. CHP says there is a fire at 3-mile marker of Wildcat Canyon Road . They are describing the fire as 300 yards wide and the “whole side of mountain.” Units on scene right now. Also, there are reports of fire coming down the mountain into San Miguel area. Flare-ups at the following locations:
Honey Springs and Deerhorn Valley, Dulzura,
Aqua Tivia and fire crews are evacuating Point Parkway Map 1291, F2
10-22-07, 8:36 p.m. WITCH FIRE: The latest update from CALFIRE reports the fire is now 145,000 acres and zero percent contained. The cause is under investigation.
600 structures have been destroyed (500 residences, 50 outbuildings, 100 commercial properties)
300 structures have been damaged (250 residences, 75 commercial properties and 50 outbuildings)
Seven injuries to firefighters; one civilian injury
The fire is threatening the communities of San Diego , Poway, Ramona, Escondido , Lakeside, Valley Center , San Marcos , Rancho Santa Fe. Currently, about 625 firefighters are battling the blaze using 89 engines, nine fire crews, ten dozers and two water tenders.
HARRIS FIRE:
The Harris Fire has now burned 22,000 acres and is five percent contained. Some civilians have chosen not to evacuate and have created rescue problems as the fire impacts their community.
Five firefighters injured; one civilian fatality, six civilians injured
The cost to date to fight this fire is $1,300,000
The fire is threatening the communities of Potrero, Barrett Junction, Barrett Lake area, Engineer Springs, Dulzura, Deerhorn Valley , Lawson Valley , Jamul, Lyons Valley area and Otay Mountain , and extreme fire conditions are making conditions difficult. No additional updates on the other fires are available at this time.
10-22-07 5:02 p.m. CAL FIRE update: The Harris Fire is well over 20,000 acres. Mapping and accuracy of acres is difficult due to rapid rate of fire spread. There is 0% containment and the fire’s spread is moving westerly towards Otay Lake. Firefighters are focusing all efforts on protection of life, property, and firefighter safety. SDGE’s Southwest major transmission line remains shut down.
The Witch Fire is 12,000 acres. There is a mandatory evacuation in Scripps Ranch. Fifty homes destroyed in Poway, 70 homes destroyed in Escondido, 6 homes destroyed in Rancho Santa Fe, an unknown number of structures destroyed in Rancho Bernardo. The fire is spreading in a west and south direction. The fire has crossed I-15 at Lake Hodges heading southwest to the communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch, Mira Mesa, and 4-S Ranch and south toward Peutz Valley, Harbison Canyon, the western part of Alpine. The head of the fire is burning in the same path as the Cedar Fire in 2003.
ALL Airtankers and helicopters are currently flying including the DC-10 supertanker from CAL FIRE. Citizens along the fire’s edge are requested to stay away from any area that has helicopters or airtankers dropping retardant or water. These aircraft are trying to protect structures and have to be very cautious when civilians are on the ground nearby.
Damage Assessment Teams have been ordered. We should get better numbers on number of homes damaged or destroyed once they are deployed.