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 ...
Ah, thanks.
What?! That's where I lived before I moved up here! What fire is there?
THAT I do understand- once the wind does what it’s doing- nothing can stop it til it rains.
Just heard everything south Scripps- evacuate.
Even though I live in Florida and am not directly affected- this is an historical fire- and it’s horrible and fascinating all at once.
“Even though I live in Florida and am not directly affected- this is an historical fire- and it’s horrible and fascinating all at once.”
Same here from Wisconsin, been watching live feeds all day.
There has to be over 1/2 million evacuated by now. Where ARE we gonna put them all ? Gee, do you think our good friends in Mexico would actually offer some help ?
And here in Northern Illinois. But we have relatives who lived in Rancho Bernardo until a couple years ago, so know the area and wonder about their old neighborhood.
Prayers go up for everyone involved. Watching NBC local is disheartening.
I’ve been looking for information...my son is on his way home from Saddleback.
“Gee, do you think our good friends in Mexico would actually offer some help ?”
Don’t even start.......
They'd probably slam the border shut. Which is why I would not evacuate south.
I'd go north or head toward the ocean.
I went to college there, and lived about three blocks from Ladera Ranch before I moved to Aliso Viejo. This is just stunning.
I hope your son is okay. Try ocregister.com, they’ve got some information on the oc fires.
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.
Praying they’re all found alive and well.
Another fire reported in La Mesa, at Fletcher Parkway and Amaya. 125 offramp closed at Amaya.
Some of these fires will burn all the way to the beach,,,
That has happened before but they have never had this many fires at one time,,,
Last I heard the wind will last 24 hrs. more...
Back in 1998 in Florida we had an absoultely astounding summer of fires- there were days when 100 new ones would start. There was one evacuation of nearly 1 MILLION people - it was an absolute disaster. Luckily- though hundreds of houses were lost- the wind shifted before thousands were lost. Still- it wasn’t the Santa Ana wind.
Maybe they ought to start building underground?? Just a thought.
My husband works in Rancho Bernardo and stays in Escondido during the week... he couldn’t get into Bernardo this morning and said the entire neighborhood where he works is being evacuated. He’s with one of his asst. managers over in Carlsbad right now.
IMHO the media is spending too much time looking for sexy fire video. Local TV and radio needs to provide timely and accurate evacuation route information.
I don’t have a good feeling about all these people being stuck on the roads, after nightfall, in the middle of a firestorm.
Remember the hurricane evacuations?
This per Duncan Hunter, being interviewed on KUSI 9 in San Diego.
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