SoCal Fires Live Thread 10/28

10/28/03 | Myself

[nicmarlo]

FOX News just reporting fire has moved into Mexico.

[nicmarlo]

Perhaps someone else heard that Mexico now affected by fires???? Am I mistaken?

[dogbyte12]

Actually, I had heard that yesterday, many many hours ago. One of the incident maps, showed a fire going right under the borderline in Mexico.

[nicmarlo]

Air Force sending planes from Colorado to fight California fires

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Some Colorado firefighters and various pieces of equipment are going to California to help battle the cataclysmic infernos raging there, but officials are keeping other personnel behind -- just in case.

''You don't want to be at someone else's fire when your town burns down,'' said Larry Stern, the director of the Boulder County Office of Emergency Management.

Volunteers who go to California are expected to make a 21-day commitment, which could leave their home areas in Colorado vulnerable.
http://www.trib.com/AP/wire_detail.php?wire_num=294949

[nicmarlo]

Incident: 3227 Type: Structure or Grass Fire
Location: WB SR118 AT TOPANGA CANYON BLVD
Zoom Map: 500 1A
Info as of: 10/28/2003 4:29:18 AM

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
4:21AM - PER R1 // APPEARS FIRE IS STILL WEST OF BROWNS CYN JNO 118 // OVER A MILE AWAY FROM PORTER RANCH

[nicmarlo]

California fires claim 15 lives
Marc Lavine
Posted Tue, 28 Oct 2003

Fast-moving wildfires exploded through tinder-dry southern California, jumping freeways and threatening tens of thousands of homes after killing at least 15 people.

US President George W. Bush declared a major disaster as 11 voracious fires roared across one of the most populous regions of the United States, devouring at least 169 000 hectares of land.

"This is a devastating fire and it's a dangerous fire and we're prepared to help in any way we can," Bush said before the declaration that unblocks federal disaster relief for fire victims.
http://iafrica.com/news/worldnews/281370.htm

[nicmarlo]

If we're having trouble with the fires, ain't no way Mexico can stop them.

[nicmarlo]

Incident: 0097 Type: Structure or Grass Fire
Location: DE PORTOLA RD AT COLT RD (Temecula area)
Zoom Map: 900 6J
Info as of: 10/28/2003 4:34:11 AM

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
4:17AM - LARGE FD 200 YDS OFF THE RDWY

[nicmarlo]

Incident: 1121 Type: Closure of a Road
Location: ALPINE BLVD AT ARNOLD WY (El Cajon area)
Zoom Map: 1233 3E
Info as of: 10/28/2003 4:36:03 AM

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
4:24AM - ALPINE CLOSED FROM ARNOLD TO TAVERN

[nicmarlo]

FOX now reporting that authorities are stating that arson is suspected for at least 3 fires

[dogbyte12]

Anybody near the foothills, be aware of wild animals heading down from the mountains. My wife just spotted two coyotes on the ivy embedment near the Santa Anita eastbound onramp in Arcadia. Deer, bear, and coyote will be heading down the hills to escape the fire. Treat them as if they were diseased. Call local animal control, and let them be aware.

[Snowy]

I hope I don't sound ghoulish, but would it be possible to post some pictures so we east-coasters can see what's happening? My news sources aren't doing such a great job covering the fires.

[dogbyte12]

Firefighter in Chatsworth last night, trying to save one of the multi-million dollar estates.

[nicmarlo]

Scripps Ranch Brush Fire - Information Well over 115,000 acres have burned in the "Cedar" fire, a brush fire that started in Ramona and has moved through Scripps Ranch. About 300 homes are confirmed destroyed in the Scripps Ranch area. Conserve electricity, in order to prevent power outages. Conserve water for the firefighters. Please minimize your exposure to the smoke and ash. Most schools will be closed on Tuesday. According to the SDPD (4:30pm): "Portions of Scripps Ranch are being re-opened to residents only. Police officers are being positioned at those intersections through which residents will NOT be allowed. Remaining closed indefinitely for safety reasons is the area South-East of Pomerado Road including: Avenida Magnifica, Scripps Trails, Oakbend Drive, Elderwood Road and South of Spring Canyon Road." As of 9:23pm, according to SDPD, no one will be allowed back in the affected area until AT LEAST tomorrow morning. They will re-evaluate in the AM. It appears that most of Elderwood Road is open now. Scripps Ranch

The following is a list of the destroyed homes in the Scripps Ranch area.

ADDRESS LIST OF HOMES DESTROYED

[dogbyte12]

Fire behind Flannegan Drive in Simi Valley.

[LizardQueen]

I'm in the rural midwest and we have basically no good news coverage of this mess

I know how you feel. I'm in Vermont but have family and friends all over SoCal and I'm getting aggravated with the lack of coverage. These threads have been a big help to me.

I have an aunt in Pasadena, a cousin in Rancho Cucamonga (actually Etiwanda), a friend in Van Nuys, and another friend in Northridge. Hubby has 4 family members (cousins and their families) around San Diego and I have an acquaintance there.

So needless to say we've been trying to watch this closely but there not much info other than FR.

LQ

[dogbyte12]

Firefighters working on a burning house in the Crestline Fire storm.

[nicmarlo]

Incident: 0100 Type: Media Information
Location: CHP ROAD CLOSURES DUE TO FIRE
Zoom Map: Click Here
Info as of: 10/28/2003 4:52:47 AM

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
4:49AM - EL CAJON AREA:
4:49AM -
4:49AM - OTAY LAKES RD @ WUESTE ROAD
4:49AM - SANTO RD TO EB AND WB SR52
4:49AM - SAN DIEGO AREA:
4:48AM -
4:48AM - THE FOLLOWING ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION WILL BE UPDATED AS THE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE

[nicmarlo]

Incident: 0100 Type: Media Information
Location: CHP ROAD CLOSURES DUE TO FIRE
Zoom Map: Click Here Info as of: 10/28/2003 4:53:52 AM

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
4:53AM - SR94 @ OTAY LAKES RD
4:52AM - SAN VICENTE @ WILDCAT CANYON RD

[dogbyte12]

Car and a house go up in Waterman fire, in San Bernardino.