Update: Now 4 Firefighters Perish Battling Cabazon Blaze (Investigators: Arson Fire Palm Springs)

Los Angeles Times ^ | 11:20 AM PDT, October 26, 2006 | Michael Muskal and Maeve Reston

[CaliGirl-R]

I'm in Hemet, no wind but smoky and ashy. When I woke up this morning, the whole sky was smoke.

Prayers for the family and co-workers.....

[TaraP]

RC is about 45 to and hour away from Cabazon...
It's on the other side of Big Bear...

[hsmomx3]

Thank you. We have some relatives who live in RC.

I am watching this on FNC and I cannot believe how fast and furious this fire is.

I pray for all of the people out there that they are safe.

[TaraP]

I am in Oceanside and it is very windy, and the sky is very greyish brown looking..

[1ofmanyfree]

Any news on how this fire may have been started?

[John W]

Breaking on MSNBC.com:As many as 400 people trapped in RV park near Calif. wildfire, official says

[TaraP]

INTERSTATE 10

[AmeriBrit]

Red Flag Warnings for Much of California issued by NWS



A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.


A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM SATURDAY FOR...

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS
CUYAMA VALLEY
VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS
VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS
SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA
LOS ANGELES COUNTY VALLEYS
SANTA CLARITA VALLEY
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST
VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS
THE INLAND EMPIRE
SAN DIEGO COUNTY INLAND VALLEYS

[kellynla]

Thank you.

I hope everyone will keep the two firemen who are in serious condition, the three firemen who we have lost and all those on the fire line in their prayers.

This looks very bad. 25mph winds with gusts up to 80mph

Zero containment at this time.

[CaliGirl-R]

My home smells of smoke and there is ash settling on my car. There are a lot of firetrucks on the roads here heading out that way. My daughter just told me Fox News said the firemen are going to focus on the San Jacinto area.

I hope it doesn't go into Idylwild. That's my playground.

[CaliGirl-R]

The Riverside County Fire website states it's under investigation. I checked there and the California Highway Patrol Incident page for info.

[TaraP]

There is many RV parks in that area, what we need is rain and lots of it! the entire Southern California looks like a tinder box!

I hope the people and the animals are safe and in evacuation centers!

[BonnieJ]

Is Apple Valley anywhere near this? I have about 25 relatives gathering there this week, for a reunion.

[NathanR]

Rancho Cucamonga is 50 miles (Mapquest says 49.3) from Cabazon down I10.

[TaraP]

Be safe! My best friend lives in Cathedral City and she said the entire area is full of ash and smoke!

God forbid the fire makes it to Idylwild, Big Bear or Arrowhead!

[CaliGirl-R]

I read on the Cal Highway Patrol site that they were bringing in horse trailers for the animals. Here in Hemet, the high school is being used for an evacuation center. They must be evacuating our local mountain, Idylwild and Pine Cove etc...

[TaraP]

Yes it's about an hour away from Cabazon. This past summer they just had another major fire up there in the Morongo Valley and Pioneertown.

[NathanR]

Yes. But it looks like it is going "up the hill" towards San Jac and Idywild, which is the other way from Apple Valley.

Bad news if it is heading there. I went to school in Idylwild.

[TaraP]

Glad to know the authorites are ready as much as they can for all this.

My cousin emailed me and said they can see the fire from Temecula!

[AmeriBrit]

As the crow flies just over the mountain. Could get really smoky for your relatives reunion. No visible signs in the sky yet but the winds are really starting to pick up now.