MIGUELGOMEZ said:

I just talked to Chico. He evacuated because of smoke, it wasn't mandatory. He went up north to check on his parents which are close to the Fallbrook fire. He says they might have to evacuate.


I'm in central San Diego, near the downtown/ airport area. Our air quality isn't too bad, but basically 30 miles north, east and south of us it's terrible. I live near Qualcom Stadium which is the biggest evacuation facility so that's a bit reassuring, but these fires are out of control.

http://www.signonsandiego...fires.html

Three major fires still burning out of control

By Debbi Farr Baker
UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM

11:25 a.m. October 23, 2007

SAN DIEGO – Three major fires in San Diego County Tuesday morning were still burning out of control, several people including firefighters are injured, hundreds of thousand are evacuated and the number of structures burned or damaged has topped 2,000 and is expected to climb.

To add to the disaster, a fourth fire started overnight on the La Jolla Indian Reservation and has already scorched 1,000 acres in Pauma Valley, Cal Fire officials said.

The biggest blaze continues to be the Witch Creek Fire which started near Ramona on Sunday and then jumped Interstate 15 Monday morning. The blaze has consumed 164,000 acres and is passing through several communities including parts of San Diego, Poway, Ramona, Lakeside, Rancho Bernardo, San Marcos, Rincon and Rancho Santa Fe, said Cal Fire Capt. Don Camp.

Almost 4,000 people were told to evacuate in Wildcat Canyon/Muth Valley area overnight as a finger of the blaze moved south, county spokesman Bill Pollick said. Officials used reverse 911 calls and went door to door telling people to get out, Pollick said.

The fire also burned extensively in Rancho Santa Fe, Pollick said.

Seven firefighters and two civilians have been injured, Cal Fire officials said.

At least 750 homes have been destroyed or damaged, 175 commercial buildings and 100 outbuildings have burned to the ground or have been damaged. The fire is one percent contained, Cal Fire Capt. Don Camp.

The Harris fire, which started Sunday morning near Portrero also continues to burn out of control racing up to the top of Mount Miguel and down the other side skirting the northeastern boundary of Chula Vista.

Parts of the communities of Bella Lago and Rolling Hills Ranch as well as the eastern part of Bonita/Sunnyside were under mandatory evacuation orders. Residents of The Woods at Eastlake and areas of San Miguel Ranch were under a voluntary evacuation recommendation, said Chula Vista police spokesman Bernard Gonzales.

About 350 people stayed overnight at a shelter at the Community Youth Center on L Street and Chula Vista High School on Fourth Avenue was opened as an overflow facility, Gonzales said.Otay Lakes Road at Wueste Road remained closed to eastbound traffic. A second closure was ordered at Bonita Road at San Miguel Road.

Dozens of people in Sunnyside stayed despite the evacuation orders and on Tuesday morning could be seen watching the bright orange fire line burn down Mount Miguel as ash sprinkled through the air.

“Its like being on a desert island hoping someone will find you, watching that fire,” said Sunnyside resident Eric Benner.

In the North County the Rice fire has scorched 6,100 acres and is still zero percent contained. At least 500 homes have burned and 30 have been damaged, Cal Fire officials said. One person has been injured.

Cal Fire officials say the fire is burning on both sides on Interstate 15 and they worry that it may merge with the Rosa fire in Riverside County.,

In Fallbrook on Reche Road dozens of homes in the Valley Oaks Trailer Park have burned to the ground. Only a handful of homes in the park were spared. The McCoy Fire is a U.S. Forest Service fire and is 300 acres and 50 percent contained. One building was destroyed and there have been no reported injuries.

In San Marcos, fire officials report the Coronado Hills Fire is contained. That fire prompted the evacuation of 4,000 people. It burned about 250 acres but no structures were destroyed and no injuries were reported.



[Edited 10/23/07 12:54pm]

thanks Vina

i'll keep u updated

Dang, I have friends in Rancho Santa Fe.

How is Los Angeles? I see it is all in smoke.

CHIC0 said:

Chico you're ok! Im so glad you're safe

veronikka said:

I,ve been to San Diego and its a beautiful city. I am sorry what you all are going through out there although I hate the Chargers!!

CHIC0 said:

Glad to hear you're relatively okay, CHICO.

Hope everything turns out well for you and your family.

veronikka said:

how are things in your area?



sort of on a standby around here. it took me 7 and a half hours to drive to a 45 min destination last night. they said there's a fire a little way from us that started this morning. keeping an eye on that. reports are changing every 10 mins..so.

RodeoSchro said:

rushing07 said:

thank u love.

orgnote on the way..

Has anybody heard from Christopher?

How is EHuffnSD? Anyone heard from him?

not to make light of any situation...but while i still have internet access and obviously here....

i guess Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony won't be performing tomorrow night. and Gwen Stefani next week either. when we were told to leave work yesterday (which is closed today) my boss made sure she saved those tickets just in case. lol...

anyway..thanks everyone. we all appreciate the prayers.


Cinnie check your orgnotes
Vina remember what i said.
karmatornado thanks for the call. i think you're about 20 mins from me.
ehuff & morningsong please be careful

hope all is well with our south cali orgers....I'm thinking 'bout y'all....

rushing07 said:

i've not. he lives just minutes from me. but i'm sure he's evacuated as fires are right behind his area.

many people are without power. also cell phone use is to be kept at a minumum, and internet connections are touch n go for some of us as well.

CHIC0 said:

be safe chico!!

CHIC0 said:

Fuck. I'm worried about yall.

[Edited 10/23/07 14:08pm]

CHIC0 said:

Chico!

The weather being hotter than two bunnies humpin' in a wool sock ain't helpin.

roodboi said:

thanks

how is the drought affecting you in GA?

jess555ja said:

Chico: Please get the hell out of there! This is scaring me.

CHIC0 said:

thats in north Ga...down here in good ol' southeast coastal georgia...it rains all the damn time...

CHIC0 said:

Jennifer Lopez is suppose to be on tonights dancing with the stars.

PaisleyPark5083 said:

I heard this morning that she pre-recorded the show so she will defenitely be on but it won't be live

PEJ said:

I was just out there, it's horrible, it feels like an oven

RodeoSchro said:

He posted earlier today, he said he was still ok.

veronikka said:

i'm good, just been dealing with HIV stuff today.

i'm glad to hear the rest of the SD orgers are good.

Christopher check in yet?

veronikka said:

It sucks that it won't be live

Reply to 'Fires in Southern California'

My wife called her brother who lives in San Diego. But on the beach. Is okay. We finally decided to check on him after the news reports. He is fine. The area is in a uproar though. Rightly so. With the fires in the hills. The Seattle area is sending Red Cross staffed groups down there tomorrow. To help with the evacuees and homeless because of the fires.