Posted on 10/21/2007 2:04:00 PM PDT by ArmstedFragg
Yet another Southern California wildfire underway, this time in the eastern San Diego County area near Witch Creek on Highway 78 between Ramona and Julian. Wind driven fire, caused by power lines dropping. Over a thousand acres since its start about an hour and a half ago.
Chief on scene requesting 7 air tankers, 6 helicopters, 10 strike teams of brush engines, and 6 strike teams of structure engines. Resources in the area are very low, so unknown how much of that order he'll actually get.
Fire's blowing south and west, smoke visible 10 miles away. Highway 15 in northern San Diego city is experiencing traffic impacts because of low visibility due to the smoke. Discussions underway over possible evacuation of part of Ramona.
This is an area where there's quite a bit of old-growth fuel.
You info’s correct. Nobody’s planning to make a stand at the bridge. Everybody’s in ‘bump and run’ mode.
Also, I heard on NBC, that the I-15 is now closed from Via Rancho Parkway to the 56 (Ted Williams)
West of 15, East of 5, North of 56 are under evacuation order.
Qualcomm has been opened as an evacuation center.
Have’nt lived in SD since 1990 and my last visit was 2004. I’m in Texas now, but I still have lots of relatives throughout the county.
Thank goodness for my Slingbox. I can watch San Diego TV all day today on my computer.
Is anyone out there who lives accross from North County Fair? My Mom lives on the golf course accross the street (Calle Montera) and she is on vacation. I want to go check on the house but I don’t think I can get in the area.
Very worried can’t get a hold of my daughter. They live in the Mira Mesa area!
If she’s north of highway 56, there’s an evacuation ongoing. If she’s south, there’s no current risk, if that’s any help.
These things tend to confine their damage to the so-called ‘urban interface’ areas within a few blocks of brushland.
Carlsbad’s about ten miles north of what appears to be the path of the fire. The main front’s in a lakebed at the moment. If it gets out of there, it may back into Rancho Santa Fe, but Carlsbad’s a real long-shot from the Witch Creek fire.
There’s another fire in the hills above San Marcos, which shares a common border with the southeast end of Carlsbad. Last I heard, they were holding their own on it. It’s on the other end of San Marcos, so she’d get plenty of warning to get out if it became necessary.
I’m trying to figure out whether my brother’s family is in the evacuation area. I’ve identified I-5, I-15, and Lake Hodges on mapquest, but can’t find state route 56. Is it known by any other name?
This is the official SD County "situation map" as of 9:00 AM this morning. Red is fire boundary. Purple is evacuation area. Pink is potential evacuation area.
This was exremely difficult to find on their page, and only in slow-loading PDF. I have moved it to a more accessable place.
For Hwy 56, try this. Use the mouse and drag to scroll east or west:
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