Posted on 10/22/2007 8:06:14 AM PDT by Sleeping Freeper
SAN DIEGO -- With fire spreading quickly westward, San Diego County officials ordered the evacuation of a huge area east of Interstate 15 between Del Dios Highway and Highway 56 early Mon"This is the worst fire this county has ever seen -- worse than the Cedar Fire [of 2003]," Sheriff Bill Kolender said.
At a news conference shortly after 6 a.m., officials said fires had spread dramatically overnight, whipped by fierce Santa Ana winds. They said fire had jumped Interstate 15 at Lake Hodges and was burning in parts of Rancho Bernardo. Because of the explosive and unpredictable nature of the blazes, all residents living between Interstate 15 and Interstate 5 from Del Dios Highway in the north to Highway 56 in the south were told to begin evacuating.
"This fire is moving very quickly," San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders said. "Watch TV, listen to the radio and have your car prepared to leave."
Among the communities in the evacuation area are Rancho Sante Fe, Carmel Highlands, Rancho Bernardo, Del Mar Heights and Fairbanks Ranch and parts of Rancho Penasquitos.
Officials have opened Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley to handle the large number of evacuees.
Sanders asked everyone in San Diego County to minimize the use of cell phones to leave the airways free for the use of emergency personnel.day.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcsandiego.com ...
Thank you!
I live just north of San Elijo lagoon in Cardiff-by-the-Sea (Encinitas). My friends evacuated Rancho Bernardo - Westwood area — where 60 homes are now gone. Sitting here watching this is surreal, as they see reports now one street away (they live on a corner street right on duenda).
This is hard and very unsettling for them to watch as their entire neighborhood seems destroyed. They are already certain for instance the son’s little league coach lost his house. They arrived here at about 9:00, and we have a lot of food but we are close to Rancho Santa Fe, and we might all be evacuating soon.
Breathing is not easy either. The ash is everywhere all over the driveway.
Bless you for trying to help me understand where the fire is, and I'm sorry you're sleep-deprived! I hope you're not in the danger zone.
He will be safe until the wind stops or the wind changes. Very fluid situation.
Prayers up for you and your friends and family, techworker.
Ok, thanks.
Wow.There are so many fires.
Shutting down the I-15 at Cajon Pass shut down in both directions
Thanks. Our friends from westwood (rancho bernardo) moved from the same part of Ohio (youngstown) as us, just over 2 years ago. So they are the closest thing to family for us, and vice versa, as all of our families are back in the midwest. Actually my wife’s family is in Northern Alabama and Memphis, but in any case we are all together here.
My wife started teaching at Santa Fe Christian, and my kids attend school there where a big chunk of the kids are from Rancho Santa Fe. I here Cielo in RSF is in danger.
My nerves.I am worried about all of you.Yes I heard 7 fires.
[chuckles]
With the new evacuation orders they are probably over 300,000 in San Diego Country alone. Report of Fox LA that 100 homes were seen lost in Rancho Bernardo.
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