SoCal Fire News Live Thread 10/27 - News updates/pics only!

My personal list of news and info on the California firestorms | 10/27/2003 | ladypixel

[Ladypixel]

From Freeper spectr17: "FF reporting one more drainage and fire will be in Pine Crest." Links for fire information: County of San Bernardino Emergency Operations Center News Western USFS burn area map as of 6am Monday School Closures from San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

[archy]

Arson suspect for Old fire sketch:

Maybe just a coincidence....

[Ladypixel]

Sudden burst of Freeper scanner reports follows. The first one is in relation to the Highland end of the Old Waterman fire; the rest are in reference to the Crestline/Lake Arrowhead area:


From Freeper Conservative4Ever:

"Okay...here is the latest from 38 and Bryant. Repeated my route from this afternoon...fear not Spect would never interfer with FF operations...38 is open south of Bryant. Still closed to 'residents only' north of Bryant. I cruised down into Mentone and could see a wall of flame crawling it's way east to the 38. If I lived on that route I would be seriously thinking of making evac plans. Funny thing though, nobody, nobody was the least bit concerned. Police officers had a side road blocked off just north of Amythest Rd...the one that hugs the mountain (where the fire is now)...can't remember the name and my maps are back at home..damn..I digress..the 38 is open through Mentone/ North Redlands but..."

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB Scanner: Devore area, Greenwood St. Residents refusing to leave."

From Freeper BurbankKarl:

"24632 CA18....structure in jeopardy, no fire crews"

From Freeper spectr17:

"fire racing in tree tops Twin Peaks, they're losing it"

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB Scanner: Front of fire is at Strawberry Peak Dr."

From Freeper spectr17:

"structures lost, Running Springs next"

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB Scanner: Front of fire is at Strawberry Peak Dr to Bear Springs Road."
"SB Scanner: Fire is moving east, both sides of hwy 18, moving rapidly."

From Freeper spectr17:

"Daley Canyon burning
IT's running east"

[Ladypixel]

Another burst of scanner information:


From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB SCANNER: 189 JCT burning to Strawberry Peak."

"SB Scanner: FIRE IS HEADED TO BLUE JAY."

From Freeper spectr17:

"CDF paging out FFs, report to Hwy 18 and Daley Canyon, Command calling for more strike teams"

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB Scanner: We're at a point in Highland where we can break one of the strike teams loose."

From Freeper ladypixel:

"San Bernardino scanner quote: "We have a civilian vehicle in the middle of the strike team...""

From Freeper spectr17:

"Water tender 25 responding to RimForest"

From Freeper BurbankKarl:

"one fire station reporting everything is on fire around it..."

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB Scanner: Sending 2 strike teams and local forces into Rim Forest."

From Freeper sf4dubya:

"SB Scanner: Smoke reports on Chuck Wagon."

From Freeper spectr17:

"structures burning in RimForest, Blackfoot trail
FF calling for more assetts"

From Freeper Mntngoat:

"Multiple structures burning at blackfoot. no additional resources available"

From Freeper ladypixel:

"San Bernardino scanner quote: "The front of fire off Strawberry Peak Rd. seems to be laying down; it's not moving at the same pace it was.""

[Ladypixel]

Spot fire reported on I-215 at Little League drive.

[Ladypixel]

From weblog at http://homepage.mac.com/joeurbz/iblog/index.html :

Updates from 12:40pm

The fight of Twin Peaks and Rim Forest.

- Highway 18 is now blocked off; they must come to RHS via 189/Daley Canyon or 330/18.

- Strawberry peak tower is intact with smoldering debris around it. Gate to the tower is passable. [Denny]

- Fire by high school is getting worse.

- "It is burning between 18 and 189."

- Two strike teams are on their way to Twin Peaks; maybe a third from Highland. Working on getting a total of 5.

- Strategizing is going now at the high school.

- 2 strike teams working their way to Rim Forest.

- There is fighting at the Lumber Yard.

- The pace of the fire at some points is "laying down" for now.

[wolficatZ]

 

A firefighter covers his mouth as a wildfire burns in the

distance on Highway 118 in Simi Valley, California

(AFP/Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)

 

 

Firefighter takes a nap as a wildfire approaches in Chatsworth, California.

Wildfires continue to rage out of control in Los Angeles, San Bernardino,

San Diego and Ventura counties threatening thousands of homes and leaving

 at least 15 people dead(AFP/Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)

 

 

A firefighter sets a controled fire to a hillside to burn off brush in an attempt

 to keep a wildfire from spreading in Lakeside, Calif. Monday night, Oct 27, 2003

. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

[Ladypixel]

Update to previously-posted weblog segment as of 12:50am:

- Generally, if something''s happening, you''ll hear it... scanner is constantly switching frequencies looking for chatter. The fact that we haven''t mentioned structures burning in Twin Peaks is probably a good sign. I did hear one mention that it was burning down the back of Strawberry Peak though... Firefighters travelling on 189 because 18 is blocked by a downed tree will hopefully see the flames and get in position to save homes in Twin Peaks. It sounds like the order of threat will be: Bear Springs Road, Lake View Lane, Glen View Lane, then Peak Road and Balsam Lane. All kinds of firefighters are travelling along 189, so we gotta hope they keep it from crossing that at least. [Daniel,12:43 AM]

[wolficatZ]

A firefighter watches a controlled fire which was set on a hillside to burn off brush in an attempt to keep a wildfire from spreading in Lakeside, Calif., Monday night, Oct 27, 2003. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)     A Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter prepares to battle a wildfire along the118 Freeway in Simi Valley, Calif., Monday, Oct. 27, 2003. (AP Photo/The Ventura County Star, Matt McClain    Paul Carey, of the San Pasqual Fire Department, battles a wildfire in Valley Center, Calif., Monday, Oct. 27, 2003. (AP Photo/Tim Tadder)

[Ladypixel]

SB Scanner: Structure fire, Santa Barbara County - 3481 Myers Rd. Page 515-G7 on Thomas Bros. mapbook.

Fire officials inquired as to whether there were still strike teams in Devore; two strike teams still there.

[Ladypixel]

I'm going to bed. (No, this isn't news, but it's pertinent anyhow.) This means that I cannot make any updates from this point (1:16am PST) onward until I've managed to rouse myself again... and I've got some sleep to catch up on. :)

I will likely be starting a new news-only fire thread as soon as I'm awake enough to do so. Until I do, however, please do continue to post updated news on this thread.

Many thanks for your support tonight. Updated list of fires will start the next thread. Goodnight!

[Ladypixel]

SB scanner: 5474 N. Sepulveda, page 546-H5 on Thomas Bros. map: Fire in backyard of this home. This is near the Simi Valley fire.

(Okay, so I figured I ought to post that before sleep, too.)

[Ladypixel]

One last update before bed. (Yes, yes, I'm really going.) This is again from the blog mentioned in previous posts.
---

Updates from 1:25am

The fight of Twin Peaks and Rim Forest.
Scanners have slowed; still waiting for any new posts.
They are trying to bring MORE crews up.

- There are some residents who refuse to leave. This is dangerous. The authorities need their name, DOB, and dentist.

- "Horseshoe has started, and is working well." (anyone explain that term?)

- Trying to confirm reports about The Depot Station...

- The high school is still the HQ.

- Moving on from the Lumber Yard to the Tire Shop (Pine Ave area).

[Ladypixel]

Updates from Rim High teacher's web blog:

Updates since 2:42am (PDT)

The fight of Twin Peaks and Rim Forest.
Scanners have slowed; still waiting for any new posts.
They are trying to bring MORE crews up.

- LA teams arrived to help; need coordination though.

- Update from scanner: Pine Lane, structures are still threatened. When fire originally hit RimForest and Twin Peaks, it was raging. They are checking out the properties by the nursery (code 4). They are working on Blackfoot East to get familiar with the terrain, help keep the fire at/off the ridge.

- There were positive remarks about progress on the scanner, but it was unclear if it was for Twin Peaks/Rim Forest/18 or San Diego. At times, the fire on route Interstate 8 and 79 steps over the signals here. Please confirm (email me).

- 7 total strike teams will be fighting this evening. The rest are coming up now via 330 (from camp). Make that 8 now. Some could not sleep, so they will keep on fighting. Three type-3 strikes are included, especially for structure protection.

- I heard the first update... a chief said he just drove 189 ''all the way down'' and the fire hadn''t crossed it at all, and it was ''holding at the top of the ridge'' -- presumably near Strawberry Peak." [Daniel]

- Another message board to use: http://cafires.proboards23.com/index.cgi
- Satellite picture link for OSEI Image.

- 18 is blocked by a landslide; all equipment has to come up 330.

- "just spoke to a deputy, He went by Ultimar about 25 minutes ago and it was still ok; fire teams fighting. Twin peaks is still ok at the police station as well as homes on Sun Set." [message board]

- There are some residents who refuse to leave. This is dangerous. The authorities need their name, DOB, and dentist. 4 guys are trying to get to Twin Peaks from 18. They are being "snagged" now by CHP. The men said they were hiking down from Big Bear.

[Ladypixel]

EVACUATION OF EAST HIGHLAND AREA

From: San Bernardino County Fire Department

This is an Emergency Alert System Message from the San Bernardino
County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Because of the potential
danger of the Old Fire, authorities and the San Bernardino County
Sheriff.s Department have initiated a mandatory evacuation of the
following area: East of Highland Avenue and North of Church Street in
the East Highland area.

American Red Cross Shelter site at the San Bernardino International
Airport (Norton). To access the Shelter site, enter the airport from
3rd Street and Del Rosa Avenue.

For more information contact:
Contact the United States Forest Service Information Line at: 909/
383-5688.

EDIS-10-27-03 1904 PST

[Ladypixel]

Rim High teacher's web blog update:

Updates since 3:05am (PDT)

The fight of Twin Peaks and Rim Forest.
Scanners have slowed; still waiting for any new posts.
They are trying to bring MORE crews up.

- They are trying to "knock down" a flare up in Rim Forest (toward the ridge off of Pine).

- Running Springs section of the fire is still active and near, if not touching, 330.

- LA teams arrived to help; need coordination though.

- Update from scanner: Pine Lane, structures are still threatened. When fire originally hit RimForest and Twin Peaks, it was raging. They are checking out the properties by the nursery (code 4). They are working on Blackfoot East to get familiar with the terrain, help keep the fire at/off the ridge.

[South40]

Beyond the flames…

Nick Christensen, 10, left, comforts his cousin Kristen Brinkley, 10,
as they visit their grandparent's charred home in Crest,Tuesday. The
home was among those lost in wildfires east of San Diego.

Linda Ball salvages collectables from her burned-out home in Crest
on Tuesday. The home which she moved into two months ago was
among those lost in wildfires east of San Diego.

A tattered U.S. flag is about all that is left of this destroyed home in Crest.

Jay Starkey, left, helps his brother-in-law Brett Nelson, carry a cast
iron stove from the charred remains of his home in Crest.

A resident of the rural community of Crest, sits with her head down
after walking past burned out structures early Tuesday.

Paige Christensen, 7, looks through the charred remains of
her family's home in Crest.

Jeanne Christensen, right, is comforted by her daughter Sabrina Emberton as
Christensen returns to her charred home in Crest on Tuesday. Christensen's
home of 35 years was among those lost in wildfires east of San Diego.

Juliet Miller wears a mask to filter the air as she walks through the debris of her
parents home in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego Tuesday.

Ash covers a swimming pool as the ruins of a house smolder on Tuesday, in the
rural San Diego community of Crest.

[Ladypixel]

Previous thread ping (news-only thread until wee morning hours of the 28th).