Mark’s Soap Box

UPADATE 0115PDT 23 Oct: The winds are picking up slightly since I first posted this. The temps are coming down. Smoke is still in the air, though.

Here is a fire map. I know some are looking and can not find one. There is also a google mashup [click here]

click for larger version

and another

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The area of largest population is within the I15 to the ocean, up to the 76, and down to the 117. Also there is extensive population along the 8 to 125.

The Scoop

Three hundred thousand have been evacuated. Wow!

Qualcomm Stadium is still taking people, and they have lots of food and water. So much food and water, they are sending it to places like the Del Mar Fairgrounds. If you have donations of NON PERISHABLE food and water, you can go to Qualcomm stadium or Del Mar Fairgrounds. Food is needed at Del Mar.

City officials are requesting that NO more food donations be delivered to the Qualcomm Stadium evacuation center tonight. However, food donations will be needed again tomorrow morning. The city is also seeking a refrigerated trailer to store donated food on site. Anyone with such a trailer can call (619) 236-6167.

If you are in the Fallbrook area, you can also go to El Toro High School, 25255 Toledo Way in Lake Forest. That’s up in Orange County. USMC was allowing civilian traffic across USMC Camp Pendleton earlier today, so they could access I5.

Del Mar is out of room for pets. I believe that includes horses at the horse park. If you can not evac your animals call here (619) 236-4250.

Evacs and Shelter

AREAS UNDER MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS

Updated Evacuations:

• ENCINITAS - The Encinitas Fire Department has ordered the mandatory evacuation of the area east of Rancho Santa Fe Road and north of El Camino del Norte. Evacuees can go to the Encinitas Senior and Community Center at 1140 Oak Crest Drive.
• FALLBROOK - A mandatory evacuation is under effect, and residents are being told to go to San Clemente State Park.
• CHULA VISTA - Chula Vista police are using the reverse 911 system to notify residents in the Bellalago community in the eastern side of Chula Vista and the south eastern side of Spring Valley (bordering the northern side of Chula Vista) of MANDATORY EVACUATIONS. Chula Vista residents can call (619) 397-6399 for a recorded message. An evacuation center has been opened at the Chula Vista Community Youth Center (campus of Chula Vista High School, 465 L Street). The Woods at Eastlake, areas of San Miguel Ranch and areas of Rolling Hills Ranch are under VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS.
• DEL MAR - Evacuations have been ordered for the following areas: South of Del Dios Highway, north of Sorrento Valley Road and west of Black Mountain Road to the ocean. Evacuees are being advised to go to centers at Carlsbad High School, Encinitas Senior and Community Center and Qualcomm Stadium.
• CREST AND HARBISON CANYON - Mandatory evacuations are underway in Crest and Harbison Canyon.
• Scripps Ranch residents have been told to pack up and evacuate.
• Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for Rancho Santa Fe, portions of Leucadia, as well as the Olivenhain Dam area.
• Mandatory evacuations have also been ordered for Lakeside at 13100 Willow Rd.
• Pomerado Hospital & Nursing Home evacuated

Everywhere north of Highway 56, east of Interstate 5, west of Interstate 15 and south of Del Dios Highway.

All residents of Ramona

The Sheriff has issued a mandatory evacuation along Highway 94 for residents of the following communities:

• Barrett Junction
• Engineer Springs
• Dulzura
• All areas in between

Shelters that still have capacity
Qualcomm Stadium
Santana High School
Poway Community Park
Poway Girls & Boys Club
Campo Community Center
Mission Hills High School
Escondido High School - 1535 North Broadway
Santana High School - 9915 Magnolia Avenue (in Santee)
Ramona High School

Full Shelters
Del Mar Fairgrounds
Steele Canyon High School - 12440 Campo Road in Spring Valley
Escondido High School
Mira Mesa High School - 10510 Reagan Road (off Mira Mesa Boulevard)
San Marcos High School (temporary shelter).

- There is additional room at Naval Base San Diego for active duty military personnel, and their families. Sailors and their families should report to the Admiral Prout field house at Naval Base San Diego for evacuation housing. Click here for more information>>

Current Conditions

The winds are stagnant on the coast. That’s good and bad for me. It keeps the fire from moving here, however it also keeps the smoke here, and the humidity low which means the fires can burn more easily. Once the winds shift and become westerly (moving from the ocean) it drags in moisture and lowers the temps. The Santa Ana’s do just the opposite.

Humidity is very low, mostly in the teens and below 10% in inland areas. This is bad, as it makes fire fighting more difficult. Embers can spark more easily. The winds are making it warmer, and blowing embers into the hot dry air and being carried to dry dead vegetation.

My Take

It’s really weird that the fire could reach the Ocean. It is just not registering with people. For those who don’t live here, it’s a good 30 miles from Ramona to the Ocean. Over large mountains, wide highways, and thousands of hills.

The fire is burning in areas that are not normally in danger. Things are far better than in 2003. People are not panicking, and the gubment seems to be doing an adequate job.

However, it’s clear that the fire fighters are stretched more thinly than in 2003. It’s worse this time, but being handled much better. If the planes don’t do some damage tomorrow, we are screwed. Period. If the fire reaches Solana Beach/Del Mar people will die, and the cost will skyrocket into the Billions. Worse will be the loss of what little faith is left in the local gubment.

My Situation

I am currently sandwiched in between two evacuation zones. The 78 to the North of me is the evac line for the Rice Canyon (Fallbrook) fire. This includes the north part of Oceanside through Escondido, to Fallbrook. To the south is the upper line for the Witch fire is the 78.

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If the fires come from the south getting out on the 5 could be a problem. The 78 will be no go, it’s already closed at the 15 which is the road to leave San Diego county. The 76 puts me right into the Rice Canyon fire at Fallbrook. That of course means everyone will be going on the 5. Great. It can’t handle the current levels of traffic, and now we are going to all run out here on it. Oh joy.

The good thing about my home, is it’s in a fairly safe area fire-wise. I can always go sleep on the beach if it gets really bad, I suppose. Hell I will just walk to the Marina, and have some fish.

Previously on the Island

• Fire Conditions — a list of fires and their status as of 22 Oct 1930PDT
• Burn Baby Burn — second post on fire
• Four Years Later — first post on fire

Tags: harris fire, mccoy fire, rice fire, witch fire, buckweed fire, magic fire, ranch fire, canyon fire, malibu, san diego, wildfires, grass valley fire, slide fire, santiago fire, sedgewick fire, roca fire, coronada hills fire