Southern CA fires - Live Thread 10/27

10/27/03 | Myself

[Ladypixel]

Ouuuch. If it's near the Valley of Enchantment, that means the fire is now circling three-quarters of the way around Crestline. That's not good!

Last I heard, though, most of the fires in that area had gotten outlying homes (30 of 'em, approximately)... I just hope it doesn't go through town. There's enough fire personnel up in that area that it would be deadly as well as destructive if it did...

[spectr17]

I'm listening to Crestline FFs on this feed, as they move and defend the homes

http://www.live365.com/stations/kb6jag

FYI, this one gives pop ups if you use it.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Not confirmed as far as I know......

[Ladypixel]

Well, hopefully I'm wrong, and it's not going that far around - but based off earlier reports, that'd seem to be the way it was going. Oh, I hope I'm wrong on this one...

Think it might be time for me to turn on the scanner. :)

[Pro-Bush]

I've got my major disbelief issues that ELF has anything to do with it.

Great..I did not say they did. But lets not put our head in the sand and ignore plausible theories.

[Ladypixel]

Who said I was putting my head in the sand? :) It's a possibility, yes. I just think it's a rather distant possibility in comparison to the possibility of a run-of-the-mill firebug.

Besides, if it were ELF, they'd have claimed it by now, don'tcha think?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Good night. Be safe everyone...

[Ladypixel]

G'nite!

[spectr17]

nite

[capitan_refugio]

I'm near the western-most red flames. The clouds of smoke are glowing tonight. Fortunately the wind is down and the smoke is being carried to the northwest of me.

I'm probably going to be up most of the night - garden hose at the ready to wet down the roof, if necessary.

[TheSarce]

Thank you for the scanner link.

[Ladypixel]

Okay, time for the last one of these updates before I call it a night. Will do more updates tomorrow as I get news in; if you have any more info/updates, feel free to freepmail me or post it, and I'll get it as fast as I can. Updates are constantly appreciated!

Current Fires Active list for California
(If you have updates, feel free to post 'em; I'm trying to keep this list as up-to-date as I can. San Diego fireline area information welcome; I'm overfrantic on just the LA/Ventura/San Bernardino/Riverside fires alone.)

Most recent total update: 850 homes lost in the southland. 300,000 acres burned.


Hemet fire, Riverside county. As of last heard report, 6500 acres burned. May have joined with the Mountain fire (see below).

Simi Valley fire, Ventura county/northern Los Angeles county - 80,000 acres. Six homes destroyed, eight damaged. Containment: 0 percent. Start: Oct. 25. Firefighters trying to save Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Voluntary evacuations for Moorpark. Personnel: 599 firefighters. Cause: Under investigation. Fire is now in Chatsworth in Los Angeles county.

Piru fire, Ventura county - 5,500 acres. Containment: 85 percent. Start: Oct. 23, west of Lake Piru in Ventura County. The fire in Los Padres National Forest is threatening the Sespe Wilderness and Sespe Condor sanctuary. There are no condors currently in the refuge. Voluntary evacuations in Piru and parts of Fillmore. Personnel: 780 firefighters. Cause: Under investigation.

Verdale fire, Los Angeles county - Also known as Santa Clarita or Val Verde fire. 9,000 acres. Containment: 50 percent. Start: Oct. 24 west of Santa Clarita in northern LA county. Voluntary evacuations for community of Val Verde Park and parts of Piru. Blaze sparked the Simi Valley fire. Personnel: 500 firefighters. Cause: Under investigation.

Grand Prix fire, San Bernardino & Los Angeles counties - 30 mile fireline from LA county to San Bernardino county. Approx. 35,000 acres. 62 homes destroyed. Containment: 23 percent. Mandantory evacuations in Lytle Creek, Mt. Baldy, Rialto, and parts of Claremont, Upland, and other foothill communities of the San Gabriel Mtns. Personnel: 2,427 firefighters. Cause: Arson. Area around La Verne/Claremont/Rancho Cucamonga mostly out; occasional hotspots and reignition of previously-burned homes occurring with occasional gusts of wind. Eastern end past Rancho Cucamonga still heavily active where it has merged with the Old Waterman Fire.

Old Waterman fire, San Bernardino county - Size: 15,000 acres. 300 homes and ten commercial buildings destroyed. Deaths: 2. Containment: 5 percent. Start: Oct. 25 near San Bernardino National Forest. Evacuations in foothill areas of San Bernardino and mountain communities, including Crestline and Lake Arrowhead. Personnel: 917 firefighters. Cause: Under investigation, suspicious origin. Currently burning northward towards Crestline and other mountain communities.

Crestline fire, San Bernardino county - Burning next to Crestline and Lake Arrowhead currently, with evacuations in Big Bear, Running Springs, Blue Jay, and other close areas. Acreage unknown. Grand Prix fire is burning up the mountain to join with it, slowly but surely. Approx. 30 structures in Crestline burned. Hospital in Lake Arrowhead has been evacuated as per NBC4 broadcast; patients have been taken to hospitals in Hesperia and other high-desert cities.

Valley Center fire, San Diego county - See Paradise Fire

San Clemente/Camp Pendleton fire, San Diego county - Freeper reports that when he passed it, it was just south of San Onofre power plant, a couple miles inland from the 5 freeway. Size: 4,695 acres. Containment: 67 percent. Started Oct. 21st on the base north of San Diego. Key facts: Authorities are downplaying early reports that fire was ignited by live ammo exercises on the base. Personnel: 999 firefighters. Cause: Under investigation.

Mountain fire, Riverside county - Now combo fire, including Rancho California fire: 6,000 acres. Six structures destroyed. Containment: 60 percent. Some burn injuries reported. Evacuations ordered for homes near Lake Skinner. Two civillian injuries. Personnel: 250 firefighters. Cause: Under investigation.

Malibu fire, Los Angeles/Ventura county region - FIRE OUT! Hooray!

Otay Lakes fire, San Diego county. Still active, and there is concern to the westerly direction that could push the fire into Eastlake and Chula Vista. Voluntary evacuation of Eastlake Tails and Woods began this afternoon.

East Lake fire, San Diego county. No further info. May be part of one of the larger fire regions.

Crest (El Cajon) fire, San Diego county. No further info; may be part of one of the larger fire regions.

Cedar fire, San Diego county. Approx. 260 homes destroyed, nine deaths, started Oct. 25 in eastern San Diego County. 100,000 acres burned. Personnel: More than 800 firefighters. Containment: 0 percent. Extends to Scripps Ranch (150 homes lost in this area, current flareups there), Poway, Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, portions of Santee, Lakeside, Ramona, and Blossom Valley. Cause: Authorities believe a hunter set a signal fire when he got lost.

Dulzura fire, San Diego county. 15,000 acres. Containment: 0 percent. Personnel: 300 firefighters. Started Oct. 26 in southern San Diego county. Fire crossed the border into Mexico, but no structures were threatened in Tijuana. Cause: Under investigation.

Paradise fire, San Diego county. Also known as Escondido fire. At least 3,000 acres. 36 homes destroyed, two deaths. Containment: 0 percent. Started Oct. 26 in Valley Center area near Interstate 15. Valley View Casino evacuated. Personnel: More than 500 firefighters. Cause: Under investigation.

Poway fire: See Cedar fire.

Ramona fire: See Cedar fire.

[RoarkMan]

I'm in Chatsworth and I'm watching flames come over the ridge in the NW above the 118. KFWB reported a while ago that they most likely backfires that are being set while the wind is calm.

[Ladypixel]

Fire Information Numbers & Evacuation Center Info:

Information Hotlines:

Public Information Hotline Number (USE THIS NUMBER FOR DIRECT FIRE INFO!): (909) 383-5688
Val Verde: (213) 247-7686
Arson Tipline: (800) 633-2836
Robler Fire Information Center: (619) 590-3160
Grand Prix Fire: (909) 383-5688
Old Fire Info: (909) 355-8800
Los Angeles Pet Shelter Info Hotline: (818) 756-9325
Animal Control: (800) 472-5609
Inland Empire Red Cross number: (909) 888-1481
How You Can Help: 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)


Evacuation centers:

-- AB Miller High School, 266 W. Randall Drive, Fontana;

-- Bonita High School, 3102 "D" St., La Verne;

-- Camarillo Pleasant Valley Parks and Recreation, 1605 E. Burnley St., Camarillo;

-- Claremont High School, 1601 N. Indian Hill Blvd.;

-- Fillmore Boys and Girls Club, 620 Shiells Drive;

-- Hamilton High School, 5740 Michele, Anza;

-- Hesperia High School, 9898 Maple Ave.;

-- Hewes Community Center, 1700 Danbury Road, Claremont;

**FULL** -- Jesse Turner Community Center, 6396 Citrus Ave., Fontana, (909)428-8372;

-- La Verne Community Center, 3660 D. Street, La Verne, CA;

**Day Only** -- Magnolia High School, 13150 Mountain Ave., Upland;

-- Mira Mesa High School, 10510 Regan Road, Mira Mesa;

-- Norton Main Terminal, 3rd & Del Rosa, San Bernardino (see San Bernardino International Airport info);

-- Olive Pierce Middle School, 1521 Hanson Lane, Ramona;

-- Park and Recreation Center, 651 West 15th St., San Antonio Heights, Ca;

-- Poway Community Center, 13094 Bowron, Poway;

-- Ramona High School, 720 Ninth St.;

-- Rancho Cucamonga High School, 11801 Lark Drive, (909) 383-5688;

-- Rancho Santa Susanna Community Center, 5005 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley;

-- San Bernardino International Airport, 294 S. Leland Norton Way, San Bernardino, CA 92408 (to access the shelter site, enter airport from 3rd St. & Del Rosa);

-- Santana High School, 9915 Magnolia, Santee;

-- Sultana High School, 17311 Sultana Ave., Hesperia;

-- Temecula Valley High School, 31555 Rancho Vista Road;

-- Thousand Oaks Community Center, 2525 Moorpark Road;

-- West Hills High School, 8756 Mast Blvd., Santee.


Animal Evacuation: Ventura County Fairgrounds, or call (800) 472-5609.

[Ladypixel]

Good luck, both of you! :)

[spectr17]

nite, I'm gone also

[Ladypixel]

Correction to the final fire update:

The Old Waterman fire has been determined to be arson. Forgot to put that update in. They are seeking two 20-something Caucasian men in a 2000-2001 grey van who threw something out of the passenger-side window.

[Ladypixel]

Sleep well. :)

(I'll probably be on for a little bit yet before sleep, but first, I'm gonna go try to scrub more ashes out of my hair. They just don't do much for my skin, y'see.) ;)

[Gucho]

http://www.sundiegolive.com/ <---Live radio coverage of San Diego fires with web cam view from Shelter Island.

[pops88]

Any current info on LAX and the status of ATC? Our company has live cargo (fish) scheduled to be shipped tomorrow. It may not survive a diversion so we can cancel it if we can keep current on what's going on. Thanks