Live Updating Thread: 2007 Southern California Firestorms

LA Times ^ | 9:35 AM PDT, October 21, 2007 | Associated Press

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

UPDATE: The city of Malibu is advising residents in Puerco Canyon to begin evacuating due to a wildfire driven by powerful winds. This area is north of Pacific Coast Highway and about 1 mile west of Pepperdine University. Residents along the beach on Malibu Road may soon be evacuated. Pacific Coast Highway is closed between Kanan-Dume Road and Topanga Canyon. Residents are advised to head to the west. Evacuation centers are being set up in the Zuma Beach area.

A wildfire driven by powerful winds in the Malibu Hills this morning threatened a university, destroyed at least one home and forced the evacuation of hundreds more, authorities said.

Related Stories
-	Wildfire burns 500 acres near Interstate 5
-	Santa Ana winds are sweeping the region

[La Enchiladita]

They’re just doing their usual cholo “gardening” after all, lots of noise, gasoline fumes from the leaf blower etc.

Btw, they’re double-parked, put up cones around their “troques” and parking enforcement drives right by.

[BurbankKarl]

Maj. Robert Fairbanks is part of the C-130 Hercules aircrew deploying 3,000 gallons of fire retardant over the Poomacha fire Oct. 24 in North San Diego County, Calif. The C-130 and crew are assigned to the 302nd Airlift Wing from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The aircraft launched from Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Calif. Air Force Reserve Command officials sent two of its designated firefighting C-130H3 aircraft to help battle the raging wildfires in Southern California. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Roy. A. Santana)

http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/071024-F-5735S-129.JPG huge pic

[doorgunner69]

For those familiar with the area, apparently the firefighters made a last ditch stand just east of the little village of Rancho Santa Fe. Beautiful little place with lots of small art shops and restaurants. I never read anything about the stand being taken, but could see where the fire stopped would not have happened naturally.

With all the eucalyptus trees there, if not stopped the fire would have gone on to the coast.

[dragnet2]

Boy, watching live video... lots of smoke on the arctic circle, where the view east to Big Bear Lake is...That would be just east of Snow Valley. Wind appears minimal though...Finally.

[BurbankKarl]

You know, one of those cats with the “mexican rake” was blowing ashes off the sidewalks and onto all the parked cars. When he saw me he offered to blow off my car.

classy.

[BurbankKarl]

oh yeah, they have been losing homes all night...not over up there by any shot.

Sheriff’s officers responded to a possible burglary at 565 Forest Shade Road in Crestline. A window was found open at Roundtable Pizza. There have been multiple calls for security checks at residences in the evacuated areas. Unauthorized residents driving into the evacuation area are hampering deputy efforts at securing property.

According to the CHP, passes are only for residents in the Valley of Enchantment and Cedarpines Park areas via the 173 and 138. Passes do not provide access through hard closures. If residents need to leave, it will be via the 138 to I-15. The CHP has established roadblocks to keep residents out of the mandatory evacuation areas of Crestline. Roads blocked include the area of Knapps Cutoff at Manzanita, Knapps Cutoff at Lake Drive, the 7-11, Old Mill Road, and Crest Forest Drive at Cedarpines Park.

There are reports of 8 or 9 people trapped in the Crab Flats area. The fire is reported to be crowning in the trees near Forestry Road 3N16.

According to scanner reports at 10:50 am, the Slide Fire is making an active run in the Crab Flats area. Structures are threatened at this time.

[doorgunner69]

From an email from my bro about the non-news coverage of the heroic effort the firefighters made:

"My buddy Paul's wife Maria is a firefighter here in Del Mar, and she called Paul to tell him they were going to make a stand at the village of RSF. If they didn't, forget it. It was still daylight, so they were able to combine all the elements of planes, helicopters, and boots on the ground to turn it back, and to the south. A few homes then burned to the south on Via de la Valle, but there is far less vegetation as you head down into the river plain of the San Dieguito river. "

[Brad’s Gramma]

I have NO idea.....I’d just say to keep them busy with INactivity things...

[dragnet2]

oh yeah, they have been losing homes all night...not over up there by any shot.

Unfortunatley this won't be totally over for days or weeks from now.

Even more unfortunate is we will no doubt get some more Santa Ana conditions in the weeks ahead.

Thanks for the CHP update. I also have family that lives just north and west of Johnny's Market in VOE.

[dragnet2]

Unfortunatley = Unfortunately..

[Brad’s Gramma]

I thought I’d lost patience a long time ago......however...

[Brad’s Gramma]

Didja deck him?

[La Enchiladita]

I will do it if Karl didn’t ...

Pinche cabrones...

[Brad’s Gramma]

I wanna help!!!

[La Enchiladita]

Oh, they’re in big trouble now....
:)

[Global2010]

God’s Speed my FRiend.

We are Praying for ya’ll and all the men/boys on the fire fighting line.

17 fires down and 14 to go.

Lord Hear our Prayers.

I never thought I would say this but We Love U California!

[Global2010]

How cute .......She has 2 sweeties or as I call mine the Cold Nose Crew.

[calcowgirl]

For those familiar with the area, apparently the firefighters made a last ditch stand just east of the little village of Rancho Santa Fe.

Oh, no! Are you talking about along Paseo Delicias?

[BurbankKarl]

probably wont be over til it rains or snows hard.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Has anyone heard any news reports of law enforcement shooting an arsonist in Orange Country?