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 should have just said, “God save all the animals. Period. The ones in the desert, the ones in the zoos, the ones in the mountains, and all the household pets. Amen.”
Good... thanks for the update!
All those Lawrence Welk retirees out there—God love ‘em and protect them!
It is very scary. I have seen them run up ridges at over 40 miles per hour. Trees will explode 400 or 500 feet in front of the flame wall. Especially eucalyptus which the is a lot of in Southern Kalifornia.
Amen!
I read that. It is some scary stuff. The fire can out run you in a car. Sobering thought.
Well....imho, it's righteous anger. This is immoral and evil. The guilty person(s) should pay for the devastation and loss of life. It is no different than committing murder.
An idyllic memory of a visit to Escondido about thirtyfive years ago, a relaxed semi-rural community with lots of open space, vineyards amd family wineries. It was paradise. Can't imagine what it is like today.
sw
Thank you. I have a sister in Fallbrook. Our childhood home is in Rancho Penasquitos, spent 23 years as a resident of the Del Mar area. Prayers to all in the San Diego area...this is just devastating.
That eucalyptus is dangerous; almost as explosive as pine. It’s full of naturally flammable eucalyptus oil. When it gets hot; stand back. WAAAY back.
IIRC, eucalyptus ,where it grows as a non-native species, is the largest “weed” on Earth.
A correction...not Crest at this time, but Pitts Valley.
Any news on your wife and dad?
Thanks for checking in, SoCalPol! I remember 2003 for San Diego. At this point, our air in L.A. city proper is getting increasingly hazy, although I don’t actually smell the smoke, I see strips of it to the south and the east especially. Will stay indoors as much as possible tomorrow.
The flames inside the burn would change directions 4 times in 8 seconds...but perimeter would jerk outward when the winds were pushing the fire. Very scary.
Peutz Valley, pronounced "Pitts". This is a community near, or a part of, Alpine.
Hey DC,,,I’m still lookin’ for “forward speed” on these fires,,,no luck yet...
I just talked to my daughter; she’s some ways away from the fires (to the east)...there’s smoke coming out her way (she’s about 45 miles or more east of LA, but no ash....yet.
They live near the foothills; I’m hoping that these insane arsonists don’t play “copycat” and decide to burn out her way, too....
I don’t have t.v., but I caught a live feed earlier on a local LA area news....sure looks awful!
here are some pictures from viewers from channel 10 san diego - go to right side click on- view brush fire photos
http://www.10news.com/index.html
The cause of the fires = low rainfall last year, i.e., dry brush + high winds + hot air temperatures. That is the classic recipe for this extent of brush fires.
The wind, the wind, the wind. Under the conditions, fires can spread extremely quickly. They are tricky to fight because of rugged terrain, because of the wind and because of the unpredictable nature of location.
We are seeing government at its best in the response to these fires.
God bless all the FIREFIGHTERS, and those who help to coordinate their activities.
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