The latest about the California wildfires

[azskyman]

Glad you and your family are ok. My son and his wife lived just south of the intersection of Scripps Parkway and Pomerado back when the Cedar Fire hit four years ago. Houses were lost just a couple blocks away.

This time, my younger son and his wife live down in Eastlake. They missed the fire by a couple of miles.

Sounds like you fared ok considering what "could have been."

Both my sons are scheduled to tee off at the Doubletree golf course along I-15 tomorrow morning, and I guess it is still open. They feel guilty in a sense, but this is the last time they will see each other until next year sometime.

Anyway...glad to hear you are safe. Scary things, those fires, and I am still concerned about the fire wrapping its way back toward the cost by Viejas and out of south Alpine. Good luck to you along the way.

Steve

[JonathanBelles]

What are the numbers now? acres burnt, acres burning, number of dead, injuries, homes burnt, number of current fires, ect.

[arkess7]

I have an Aunt that lives in Escondido and they were gona have to evacute a few days ago......but the winds changed and the firemen got it under control.......from what my mom told me. I also have another Aunt that lives in Corona del Mar...and theyve had to deal with the wildfires being close to them before in the past too! Scary stuff! It's crazy no matter where you live your gona have to deal with some kind of natural disater!

MOTHER NATURE DOESNT PLAY!

[angelwing]

I just got this:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
RECOVERY BEGINS

San Diego

10-26-07 8:00 p.m. Countywide Perimeter Map
http://www.sdcountyemergency.com/newsre ... _low72.pdf

News Updates:

Poomacha fire lines among 'most active'

Last modified Friday, October 26, 2007 5:04 PM PDT
http://nctimes.com/

NORTH COUNTY -- The northern and eastern edges of the Poomacha fire burning in the Pala area remain among the "more active if not most active" fire areas in the county, a fire official said Friday afternoon.

At a televised afternoon news briefing, CalFire Chief Rick Hutchinson said the Poomacha fire, which has burned 39,900 acres, has moved into the Agua Tibia Wilderness area, If it is able to cross Nate Harrison Truck Trail in the area, the possibility of it moving through Palomar Mountain "is still very real," Hutchinson said.

"It is making some fairly good runs and control is difficult," Hutchinson said.

A county spokeswoman said shortly before 5 p.m. Friday that firefighters were still successfully holding the fire line and the blaze had not crossed the truck trail.

The Poomacha and Witch fires merged are among five blazes still burning in San Diego County. Officials said at the afternoon news briefing that firefighters are making progress, but the county is in a combined fire "response and recovery mode."

Current Wildfire Stats

FIRE STATUS as of 7:40 p.m. Oct. 26, 2007:

Poomacha Fire

42,000 acres
35% contained
Full containment and control on October 29th
78 homes, 19 outbuildings destroyed
The fire was active near Pauma Reservation and Palomar Mtn. The fire has entered the Aqua Tibia Wilderness. Control operations within this area are difficult given the steep terrain and inaccessibility. Active structure protection occurring in the Mt. Palomar area. In residential areas where the overall threat has lessened, some displaced residents are being allowed to return

Rice Fire

9,000 acres burned.
60% contained
Full containment on October 28th
Full control on November 5th
3 injuries to firefighters
Minimal fire activity, interior burnout, occasional flare-ups

Harris Fire

86,000 acres
35% contained.
Full containment on October 31st
Full control on November 4th.
16 injuries to firefighters, 21 civilians burned and 5 civilian fatalities.
111 homes, 1 commerical property and 86 outbuildings destroyed. 250 homes damaged.

Witch Fire

197,990 acres
45% contained
Full containment on October 31st
Full control on November 5th
26 injuries to firefighters, 2 civilian fatalities.
911 homes, 30 commerical property and 175 outbuildings destroyed. 62 homes, 10 commercial properties, 50 outbuildings damaged

Fire officials are developing contingency plans for fire movement towards Lake Arrowhead.

Good Progress Made On Containment Lines-The Slide Fire
Update 9:00 PM
http://www.rimoftheworld.net/emergency/

Improved weather conditions played an important role in allowing firefighters to make good progress on constructing fire containment lines today. Moderate fire spread was reported. The Slide Fire is 20% contained as of 7:45 pm Friday. It is currently 13,700 acres.

According to fire officials, structure protection is in place for Lake Arrowhead Scout Camps. Crews have begun perimeter control on northeast section. The next actions will be to continue structure protection, mop and patrol around structures. Additionally, fire crews continue construct direct line in southwest section and around Running Springs. Fire officials are developing contingency plans for fire movement towards Lake Arrowhead.

Early this morning there was an additional structure loss in the Running Springs area, bringing the total to 201. Structure protection groups went door-to-door performing heat checks on all residences within the fire perimeter. Damage assessment teams are surveying the areas to provide accurate data for mountain residents.

Additional line was constructed on the 1,140-acre Grass Valley Fire, which is 75%, contained as of 7:45 Friday evening. According to reports, 162 structures have been lost with an additional 20 structures damaged.

Firefighters continue to make good progress burning out the completed hand and dozer line in the Miller Canyon drainage. Planned burning operations have been successful

How the fires started
October 26, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/

Here are some of the suspected causes of the wildfires that burned across Southern California this week:

Witch fire (San Diego County) Possible cause: Downed power lines, a witness said

Harris fire (San Diego County) Cause unknown

Canyon fire (Malibu) Suspected cause: Downed power lines

Buckweed fire (Agua Dulce) Suspected cause: Downed power lines

Santiago fire (Orange County) Official cause: Arson

Magic fire (Stevenson Ranch) Suspected cause: Sparks from welding by construction workers

Rosa fire (Temecula, Riverside County) Official cause: Arson

Grass Valley fire (North Lake Arrowhead) Cause unknown

Slide fire (Running Springs) Cause unknown

Link: Fire Report as of 8 p.m. Thurs. New burns diminish..
http://www.latimes.com/media/graphic/20 ... 483255.jpg

National Incident Information Center
http://www.fs.fed.us/news/fire/index.shtml

[Derek Ortt]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/31/fire.c ... index.html

one was started by some punk kid

he should still be punished in the manner I suggested earlier. If he is old enough to start the fire, he is old enough to face the consequences

[Cyclenall]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/31/fire.california/index.html

one was started by some punk kid

he should still be punished in the manner I suggested earlier. If he is old enough to start the fire, he is old enough to face the consequences

I noticed they didn't even release the age so it could be as young as say 4 years old.

[Thunder44]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/31/fire.california/index.html

one was started by some punk kid

he should still be punished in the manner I suggested earlier. If he is old enough to start the fire, he is old enough to face the consequences

I don't think he should be punished so harshly. It doesn't look like he intended to start a wildfire. Just doing something stupid.