WITCH FIRE: The latest update from CALFIRE reports the fire is now 145,000 acres and zero percent contained. The cause is under investigation.
600 structures have been destroyed (500 residences, 50 outbuildings, 100 commercial properties)
300 structures have been damaged (250 residences, 75 commercial properties and 50 outbuildings)
Seven injuries to firefighters; one civilian injury
The fire is threatening the communities of San Diego , Poway, Ramona, Escondido, Lakeside, Valley Center, San Marcos, Rancho Santa Fe. Currently, about 625 firefighters are battling the blaze using 89 engines, nine fire crews, ten dozers and two water tenders.
HARRIS FIRE: The Harris Fire has now burned 22,000 acres and is five percent contained. Some civilians have chosen not to evacuate and have created rescue problems as the fire impacts their community.
Five firefighters injured; one civilian fatality, six civilians injured
The cost to date to fight this fire is $1,300,000
The fire is threatening the communities of Potrero, Barrett Junction, Barrett Lake area, Engineer Springs, Dulzura, Deerhorn Valley , Lawson Valley , Jamul, Lyons Valley area and Otay Mountain , and extreme fire conditions are making conditions difficult.
Additional:
10-23-07 5:13 a.m. La Jolla Reservation Fire: According to CALFIRE, a new fire is burning in the area of the La Jolla Indian Reservation. The fire was reported at 4:10 a.m. Several structures are burning. At least 150 acres involved. The reservation has been closed, and people are being evacuated to the Palomar Observatory. CALFIRE and U.S. Forest Service crews are battling the blaze.
10-23-07 3:12 a.m. Mandatory reverse 911 calls have been issued for North Jamul and Indian Springs. The fire is located near Hwy 94. The evacuation center for this area is Qualcomm Stadium. Reverse 911 calls have been made to 1,549 residents.
10-23-07 3:04 a.m. The Sheriff’s Dept. is reporting that in Fallbrook the fire is moving east towards De Luz Rd. and fire crews continue to evacuate homes ahead of the fire.
10-23-07, 2:45 a.m. Reverse 911 calls are being sent out at the request of Lakeside Fire for all of Wildcat Canyon and Muth Valley south to Willow Road. Evacuations are mandatory and there are 3,780 calls being sent out. Evacuees are being directed to Santana High School.
10-23-07, 1:57 a.m. CHP says there is a fire at 3-mile marker of Wildcat Canyon Road . They are describing the fire as 300 yards wide and the "whole side of mountain." Units on scene right now. Also, there are reports of fire coming down the mountain into San Miguel area. Flare-ups at the following locations:
Honey Springs and Deerhorn Valley, Dulzura,
Aqua Tivia and fire crews are evacuating Point Parkway Map 1291, F2
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:00 am
Would be nice if the government could provide more updated maps of the burned areas. The updates don’t have to be perfect either. For those of us who have been forced to exacate, it would be nice to see what is really happening (TV and radio news, for the most part, keeps repeating themselves. Most recent map I saw was dated 7pm last night. It is now 10:07am. Luckily for it, it appears that my house will be saved.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:00 am
Reverse 911 also has some work to fix the errors. Selected residents on my street got the call. Didn’t matter if they were with AT&T or COX cable for Telephone. Hopefully people weren’t waiting for that call and were smart enough to leave in other areas. My son and I did drive up to the line on Espola Road to give the fire crews some nice ice cold Apple juice yesterday. I wonder if they liked the ice cubes that we brought along better than the juice. And finally, regarding my previous comment about the government maps, yes they are slow to post, but I found away to get them a lot faster. It does pay to have a friend who is a county GIS analyist.
Tip of the hat to all of the emergency crews!!