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… Read More

Some bozo in Paso Robles complained that there was a collage of photos on the wall of the local post office displaying photos of local folks deployed in the military oversees. Some even bigger bozo at the U.S. Postal Service, in response to bozo #1 went ahead and ordered the collage removed.

Well, the photos are back up now, due to the intervention of Congressman Kevin McCarthy. Check out the story on Fox News here.… Read More

The number of people under mandatory evacuation in San Diego is now equivalent to Nebraska’s entire population….

10-23-07 11:21 a.m. Overall evacuation update. A total of 349,915 Reverse 9-1-1 and AlertSanDiego phone calls have been issued between the County of San Diego and the City of San Diego, informing residents of both advisory and mandatory evacuation orders. Based on 2000 census data, approximately 513,000 people in San Diego County have received a mandatory evacuation order and an additional 12,000 people have been advised to leave their homes.… Read More

As Duane Dichiara has noted in his posts below, downtown San Diego has been uniquely quiet the last two days. Although not threatened by fire, many of the folks who would typically drive in from other areas of the county are dealing with more significant issues than work, or their employers are closing operations for the time being. For good reason, as approximately one in six county county residents have been evacuated from their homes. The encouragement is to stay off the highways if possible.

Duane documents the empty nature of downtown withthe followingcouple of photos, taken at high noon, a good time for a ghost town … looking down Broadway, likely the busiest street in the area. And, although he has written for FR for nearly two years, he hasn’t yet learned how to post photos, so he asked me to do so. I am glad he can handle a camera.

… Read More

The freeways on the way downtown were wide open, at rush hour. From what I can tell downtown is largely shut down. Tourists and the homeless are just about the only people in the street. City buses and the trolly are stopping and no one is getting out or in. A dull haze hangs over the city, and the smell of smoke is everywhere. San Diego has ground to a halt.… Read More

Doing his best to prove there is a God, mean-spirited extremist Congressman Pete Stark took to the House floor today to stop the bleeding for House democrats by apologizing to his colleagues, the President and the troops. In his own words "I hope with this apology I will become as insignificant as I should be."

Pete Stark can never be as insignificant as he should be.… Read More

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders is encouraging residents and business owners to donate the following items in support of fire evacuation relief efforts at Qualcomm Stadium: prepared foods, packaged snacks, water, tents, cots and blankets.

All donations should be delivered to Gate P at Qualcomm Stadium.

If you know of anyone with a large surplus of blankets and/or cots, or a restaurant that wishes to donate food, please contact Scott Maloni at (858) 663-8838.

211 San Diego is also seeking volunteers to take on shifts to answer phones. Please call Megan at (858) 300-1240 to find out how you can help.

10:30 UPDATE: Del Mar evacuated… Read More

As I sit in my San Diego office this morning I look out over the normally busy intersection of Broadway and 5th. Today I see two people. The cars are usually jammed the length of Broadway. Today you could walk across the street without getting one horn jammed at you.With the suburbs on fire, and the many of the roads and freeways shut down, downtown is almost a ghost town…hazy and quiet.… Read More