Thursday, October 25, 2007

San Diego Fires: Back On It

So here's what has happened overnight:

Partial list of destroyed homes in unincorporated areas
here.

From
SD County Emergency:
  • On the Witch Fire, Escondido Police Dept. has advised CAL FIRE of reports of a flare up at the intersection of Via Valante and Purer Rd. TB1149G2. Update from Jamul: Roads remain closed in the Jamul area and there are some hot spots around the Lyons Peak. Changing winds in this area are of concern.
  • Proctor Valley - Fire holding but potential to flare up in case of increased winds.
  • Deerhorn Valley/Honey Springs - Monitoring fire. If wind increases fire may move NE and could trigger evacuations.
  • E Lake Barrett - Hot spots remain, monitoring any movement NE into heavy brush.
  • Several strike teams of San Diego Fire crews working thru the night and fresh crews working tomorrow in the two closed areas in Rancho Bernardo; Westwood and Bernardo Trails.
  • Red Cross shelter being established this evening at Harris Rincon Pavilion; 777 Harris Rincon Way , Valley Center , 92082. There are 400 reservation evacuees.

CAL FIRE provided the following updates on fires(7:30 pm, 10/24):

  • Harris Fire
    75,000 acres
    10% contained
    Full containment expected on the 28th and full control on Nov. 4th.
    1,341 firefighters assigned and 7 injuries to firefighters.
    Cost to date to fight the fires is $3,400,000.
    155 homes destroyed
    250 homes damaged
    2 commercial properties and 17 outbuildings destroyed.
    The returning onshore flow has moved the fire to the northeast threatening structures along Highway 94 from Jamul to the east, Lyons Valley to the north. The regional communications equipment on Lyons Peak was damaged by fire, cutting off power and destroying the back-up generator. Crews installed a portable repeater to support fire communications. The fire progressed north in the Barrett Lake area, consuming old, heavy fuels.
  • Witch Fire
    196,240 acres
    20% contained
    No estimated containment or control, but little fire spread.
    2,331 firefighters assigned to this fire
    Cost to date to fight the fires is $5 million
    Fire progression has slowed to the west, southwest, and northwest due to improvement in weather and resources assigned to the fire. Conditions in these areas have improved to the point of evaluating the return of some residents. Winds in the fire area are still variable with coastal influence returning to valleys. Warm, dry and unstable conditions still exist at the higher elevations and the eastern areas of the fire. The Poomacha Fire continues to burn close to the north flank of the Witch Incident, they have NOT joined.
  • Rice Fire
    9,000 acres
    20% contained
    Full containment expected on the 28th, with full control expected November 5th
    1,095 firefighters assigned
    Cost to date to fight the fires is $1,283,133
  • Poomacha Fire
    35,000 acres
    10 percent contained
    719 firefighters assigned.
    12 injuries to firefighters.
    Expansion of incident in a north easterly direction due to wind shifts. Fire increased in size due to extreme fire behavior, lack of resources and wind shifts. Perimeter control has been initiated and structure protection is still in place. Evacuation centers continue to be staffed and occupied.
  • Cost to date to fight the fires is $750,000.

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