SoCal Fires Live Thread 10/28

10/28/03 | Myself

[spectr17]

SoCal Fires Live Thread 10/28

[Snowy]

Thanks for the pictures! I was in CA in the late 70's or early 80's. We were staying at a resort and there was a huge forest fire that basically went around the resort. We watch the fire quickly spread over the mountains. Occasionally, you would see a patch of black smoke that we figured was a house going up. :( I remember a lot of animals being run out at well. Stay safe!

[nicmarlo]

California Number of Fires: 11 Acres: 231,053 New Fires: 2 Fires Contained: 0
Number of WFU Fires: 2 WFU acres: 15,067

For general information concerning wildland fires in California, call 909-381-3151.

NEW Cedar (Cleveland National Forest): 6,000 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is burning 10 miles east of Ramona. Rapid rates of spread were caused by high winds.

Information: For more information, call 619-590-3160.

NEW Otay (Monte Vista Unit, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection): 10,000 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is burning five miles south of Dulzura. Major runs with rapid rates of spread were caused by wind. The fire increased 10,000 acres in six hours.

Information: For more information, call 619-590-3160.

Simi Incident (Ventura County): 80,000 acres at five percent contained. This fire is burning five miles north of Simi Valley. The fire burned with rapid rates of spread and long range spotting due to high winds. High winds continue to hamper control efforts. Evacuation centers opened and structure protection is in place in the Simi Valley area. State Routes 188, 126, and 23 are closed.

Information: For more information, call 805-388-4276.

Old (San Bernardino National Forest): 24,000 acres at five percent containment. The fire is located on the north side of San Bernardino. Extreme wind-driven fire behavior with spotting continues. Structure protection is in place for numerous residences and commercial properties. The north end of San Bernardino continues to be evacuated.

Information: For more information, call 909-383-5688 or 909-887-8921.

Verdale (Los Angeles County): 8,680 acres at 85 percent contained. The fire is located four miles west of Santa Clarita. Minimal fire behavior was observed yesterday.

Information: For more information, call 323-881-2411.

Piru (Los Padres National Forest) 25,000 acres at five percent contained. The fire is located 14 miles northwest of Santa Clara. High winds caused extreme fire behavior with long range spotting and high rates of spread. Structure protection is in place for 300 residences and two commercial properties.

Information: For more information, visit the Piru Fire incident website or call 805-961-5770.

Roblar 2 (Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base): 6,892 acres at 85 percent contained. The fire is burning six miles west of Fallbrook. Fire activity was limited to the west flank.

Information: For more information, call 760-725-5043 or 760-763-3889 (fire information).

Grand Prix (San Bernardino Unit, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection): 52,184 acres at 25 percent contained. The fire is located two miles west of Mira Loma. Extreme fire behavior was observed with torching, spotting, fire whirls, and intense runs. The fire continues to burn in a westerly direction. Upland, San Antonio, Mt Baldy Village, and Lytle Creek are being evacuated.

Information: For more information, call 909-383-5688 or 909-887-8921.

Paradise 2 (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park): 1,297 acres at 97 percent contained. This fire is located seven miles northeast of Three Rivers. The fire was previously reported as part of the Kaweah - Kern Complex. Unseasonably warm and dry conditions continue, causing a significant increase in fire behavior. Fire activity continues in well developed thermal belts and roll-out spotting along ridge tops and in drainages within containment lines.

Information: For more information, visit the National Park Service's Fire News website.

Paradise (Monte Vista Unit, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection): 15,000 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is located six miles northeast of Escondido. Extreme fire behavior was observed due to Santa Ana winds. Residences were evacuated.

Information: For more information, call 619-590-3160.

Mountain (Riverside Unit, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection): 2,000 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is located 13 miles northeast of Ternecula. The fire burned aggressively with rapid rates of spread. Residences were evacuated.

Information: For more information, call 909-940-6985.

Kaweah - Kern Complex (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park): This 11,317-acre lightning Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fire is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. This fire was previously reported, began on July 28, and is located 15 miles east of Grant Cove in Kings Canyon National Park.

Information: For more information, visit the National Park Service's Fire News website.

Albanita/Hooker (Sequoia National Forest): This 3,750-acre lightning Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fire is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. The fire is located ten miles north-northwest of Kennedy Meadows.
http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html

[nicmarlo]

County ablaze
Total number of charred acres: 120,000 -- 90,000 of them in Simi Valley

By By T.J. Sullivan,Leslie Parrilla and Kathleen Wilson
October 28, 2003

Ventura County burned at both ends Monday and remained primarily under smoke-stained skies as the total number of acres charred by flames grew to 120,000 -- 90,000 of them in the Simi Valley fire at the east end and another 29,300 in the Piru fire in the west.

As of nightfall, the costs of fighting both fires in Ventura County exceeded a combined total of $3 million. There were no deaths, and injuries were minimal.
http://www.insidevc.com/vcs/county_news/article/0,1375,VCS_226_2382282,00.html

[jesi]

No joke, if it were another country on fire....we'd probably have all day news coverage. Venting. The info on these threads is the only way I've been able to stay informed and I wouldn't have known just how severe it really is without them.

[kingu]

Perris, CA is doing fine, no significant fires have been reported in that area at all. Actually, they're in a pretty good condition overall - they had a major fire over there about seven years ago, and in the areas where the fire was, they've had developments go in, which would break up any fire lands and prevent the type of running fires that you see near San Bernardino or down in San Diego.

I had some friends who got burned out last time they had a fire down there - it was a real trip to visit them last year - it used to be that you could look out from their home and maybe be able to see neighbors in the distance. Now you've got to navigate two subdivisions, twisting around, to get to their house, and there isn't a plot around them that isn't already developed.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

I'm getting aggravated with the lack of coverage

I know what you mean, but at the same time, I think it is unrealistic (for me anyway) to expect the level of detail I want--what is happening in specific neighborhoods in San Diego--from a national news source. Besides, they are getting their news from San Diego, and I am not sure how fast updates about specific areas are getting out.

[nicmarlo]

FOX News just said the fire burning up toward Lake Arrowhead, out of control, the firefighters are basically in retreat.....they do not feel they can stop it at this point.....very bad news coming out of that area. 45,000 homes at risk they said; they also reported because of the extensive beetle attacks, there's extensive dead growth fueling fire.

[muggs]

I don't recall any of your previous posts, but if I see any in the future, I'll know not to pay any attention.

Sheesh, go away.

[jesi]

Thank you sooooo much.

[nicmarlo]

Incident: 0100 Type: Media Information
Location: CHP ROAD CLOSURES DUE TO FIRE
Zoom Map: Click Here
Info as of: 10/28/2003 5:12:12 AM

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
5:10AM - ALPINE BLVD @ TAVERN AND ALPINE BLVD @ ARNOLD
4:54AM - SR67 @ SCRIPPS/POWAY PKWY
4:53AM - SR67 @ MT WOODSEN
4:53AM - SR94 @ OTAY LAKES RD
4:52AM - SAN VICENTE @ WILDCAT CANYON RD
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]

Ventura County firefighters watch a twister of flame rise from a back fire in Simi Valley, California.

[dogbyte12]

lake arrowhead area would be a devastating loss. It originally was the middle class dream vacation area in the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Middle class families would buy cabins up there, on blue collar incomes, and vacation up there in the summer time.

That has changed somewhat, as it has gotten more expensive, however there is a lifetime love for the area for many southern californians. As has been pointed out, Blue Jay, right next to the lake, is the home training ground for professional figure skaters like Michelle Quan. It will take many many years for the area to recover from this, if it is as bad as they believe. You simply do not rebuild Arrowhead, like you would a subdivision. If the trees are all gone, the lake filled with soot, alot of the homeowners might just take their settlement and pocket it.

Financially, it isn't as bad as 9-11, but it will get there if we can't get a hold on these fires.

[kingu]

I'm really hoping that they can nail down the fires near Simi and Lake Arrowhead so that they can get back to the fire up in the high mountains above my house.. Once back in there, it'll burn for weeks with little concern until the Santa Ana winds come back up and forces it back towards the cities below..

In particular, there's East Fork which has enough fuel to lead the fire right back down into Azusa if there's a strong blow.

[nicmarlo]

State expects fires to be costliest ever
By Brian Skoloff, The Associated Press
October 28, 2003

SIMI VALLEY -- Wind-driven wildfires gutting communities from the Mexican border to Ventura County will be the most destructive in California history, the state's emergency services director said Monday as the death toll jumped to 15.

At least 1,134 homes and 483,000 acres have gone up in flames.
***
A number of the fires, including Simi Valley, were believed started by arsonists.

"Those who start these fires are no better than domestic terrorists and should be dealt with as such," said Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley.


http://www.insidevc.com/vcs/state/article/0,1375,VCS_122_2382123,00.html

[nicmarlo]

This is a real tragedy, especially since it appears that many fires are under suspicion of arson.

[dogbyte12]

According to the AP, we are at over 500,000 acres now. Up to over 75% of the land mass of Rhode Island.

[nicmarlo]

Ignoring evacuation orders fatal for some
People who delay leaving homes killed by fast-moving wildfires

By Michelle Morgante, The Associated Press
October 28, 2003

SAN DIEGO -- As flames closed in, a neighbor ran to Nancy Morphew's door to warn her. But Morphew didn't seem worried about getting out in time.

"She met me at the front door and said, 'I know, I know. Go help other people,' " David Wallace recalled. "She seemed like she had a plan."

After the fire tore through Sunday, Morphew was found dead in the road, her burned-out truck sitting at the bottom of a ditch along Yellow Brick Road.

Like many of the 15 people who died in the wildfires burning across Southern California, Morphew -- a 51-year-old woman who took pride in running her own horse ranch -- apparently underestimated how fast the flames were moving.

"I think she got disoriented and the smoke was probably real bad," said another neighbor, Charlene Pierce. "It looks like she just drove into the canyon."

http://www.insidevc.com/vcs/state/article/0,1375,VCS_122_2382127,00.html

[CathyRyan]

Back for a day of sitting quietly and trying to stay out of the way.

[nicmarlo]

Yep, that's what I heard on FOX earlier, 500,000 acres burned

[nicmarlo]

Area residents hope Big Bear isn’t next to catch fire

By Benjamin Spillman
The Desert Sun
October 28th, 2003

Coachella Valley firefighters are facing long hours and tough choices in their efforts to prevent inland wildfires from overwhelming more Southern California communities.

About two dozen firefighters from the Palm Springs and Cathedral City fire departments are working to suppress flames from wildfires throughout the region.

Palm Springs Fire Marshal Carl Thibeault said the department has already dispatched 15 firefighters -- about one-third of the city’s force -- to help fight fires that have broken out throughout the region.

Thibeault said the local firefighters are trying to protect homes in places like Rancho Cucamonga and San Bernardino where fires have burned through entire neighborhoods.

In sporadic reports, Thibeault said firefighters are telling him that despite their best efforts, they’re often overwhelmed by the size and intensity of the fires.

"They have to pick and choose which houses they can save," Thibeault said. "With these kind of firestorms you can never have enough engines."

So far, no Palm Springs or Cathedral City firefighters have been injured, according to their departments.

The Riverside County Fire Department/California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said it had 664 firefighters battling the Mountain Fire, a wildfire in the area of Temecula and Hemet that has charred about 11,000 acres so far.
http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories2003/local/20031028013654.shtml