Posted on 10/22/2007 8:06:14 AM PDT by Sleeping Freeper
SAN DIEGO -- With fire spreading quickly westward, San Diego County officials ordered the evacuation of a huge area east of Interstate 15 between Del Dios Highway and Highway 56 early Mon"This is the worst fire this county has ever seen -- worse than the Cedar Fire [of 2003]," Sheriff Bill Kolender said.
At a news conference shortly after 6 a.m., officials said fires had spread dramatically overnight, whipped by fierce Santa Ana winds. They said fire had jumped Interstate 15 at Lake Hodges and was burning in parts of Rancho Bernardo. Because of the explosive and unpredictable nature of the blazes, all residents living between Interstate 15 and Interstate 5 from Del Dios Highway in the north to Highway 56 in the south were told to begin evacuating.
"This fire is moving very quickly," San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders said. "Watch TV, listen to the radio and have your car prepared to leave."
Among the communities in the evacuation area are Rancho Sante Fe, Carmel Highlands, Rancho Bernardo, Del Mar Heights and Fairbanks Ranch and parts of Rancho Penasquitos.
Officials have opened Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley to handle the large number of evacuees.
Sanders asked everyone in San Diego County to minimize the use of cell phones to leave the airways free for the use of emergency personnel.day.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcsandiego.com ...
Well then why don't you just TELL US what you meant by your comment?
This just reminds me so much of the Cedar Fire, almost 4 years to the day. Which was also the date that I was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with this weird a$$ brain condition!
That being said, this fire is so much worse. Staggering losses of homes and properties. I’m afraid to hear how many livestock perished.
You probably meant that just one county in California has more acreage...
That’s a tough one.
I’m in the NM Mountains, and we’re way past due. Well, you do what you can.
In 03, all SD COunty schools were closed due to the smoke.
Thanks for the map.
Bumping and adding to your prayers for the firefighters and residents in the line of fire.
fire spreading thru large condo complex in Rancho Banardo
Our smoke was much much worse in the Cedar fire than it has been SO FAR with these fires.
These winds are just crazy though!
wow they just said they expect it to reach the coast
~~~
No way they can stop these fires in that wind,,,
Prayers Up...
I just heard it described on one of the “pressers” as a “Perfect Storm”. How very dreadful for all of you there. Prayers up for you and the brave firefighters. Living in the middle of a National Forest, I’ve had more experience than I ever wanted with fires.
(side note to some others: this is NO place for political discussions!)
They don't realize the size of the super rugged topography, and what erratic strong winds can do.
They don't realize you can clear your brush back 200 yards, and with a wind blown wild fire moving at 45 plus miles per hour, hot embers can travel for *miles* into neighborhoods and everywhere else.
I've seen hot embers flying at 60 miles per hour, getting sucked up under roof eves, in areas far away from the actual fires.
Some here are just ignorant of the situation.
One more time - either get on topic or go to another thread.
Wind shift just hit Escondido. It’s coming from due east now. City was smoke free until a couple of minutes ago, now it’s smoked in.
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