On Thursday Kirk Murphy wrote a compelling piece at Firedoglake, “Drown it in a Bathtub?” – How Grover Norquist, the Club for Greed, and Arnold Let SoCal Burn, explaining how anti-tax sentiment in San Diego County left firefighters without adequate resources to respond to this week’s inferno.

Unsurprisingly, this has happened elsewhere. As firefighters battle to save Silverado Canyon and prevent the Santiago Fire from reaching Riverside County homes, we are now learning that Orange County firefighters faced similar crippling shortages of equipment and personnel – shortages that prevented them from being able to quickly extinguish the Santiago blaze.

Specifically, Orange County Republicans campaigned hard against Measure D, a 2005 ballot proposal that would have diverted $80 million in surplus public safety funds from Proposition 172 to help properly staff Orange County fire departments. The failure of Measure D leads directly to the OCFA’s inability to quickly contain the Santiago Fire when it broke out Sunday evening.

The full story is below.

As today’s LA Times explains:

Before the Santiago fire started in the hills northeast of Irvine, the Orange County fire department already had been hobbled.

Its fire engines were staffed below national standards, it had fewer firefighters per capita than neighboring counties, and its army of men and women ready to fight the blaze may have been weakened by changes in the county’s volunteer firefighter program….

“We’re out there with a handful of crews trying to stop this big fire, and all we could do was just put out spot fires,” said Chip Prather, chief of the Orange County Fire Authority. “It would have been great to have the cavalry come in, but there were several fires burning, and it was taking time for the resources to get here.”…

The size of those crews was one way that Orange County fell below the national standard. Most of the county’s engines were staffed with three people. Four per engine is the voluntary minimum standard from the National Fire Protection Assn., a private organization that writes fire safety guidelines.

Crews with three firefighters work more slowly than larger crews, according to a study by the Insurance Services Organization, a national group that evaluates fire departments.

Why was the OCFA shorthanded? Why didn’t they have enough funds to adequately crew their engines? Because conservative Republicans fought efforts by the OCFA to get more funds to hire trained firefighters. Friday’s Orange County Register explains:

Two of the Orange County politicians now complaining about the lack of air support for the Santiago Fire opposed firefighters’ effort to purchase new helicopters and trucks two years ago.

In fact, county officials today are sitting on more than $80 million in excess revenue from a statewide public safety sales tax adopted 13 years ago.

That surplus has been a longstanding sore spot for OC firefighters, who at times this week were so overwhelmed they had to seek refuge inside fire retardant tents.

The firefighter’s 2005 ballot initiative would have redirected a small portion of the ½ cent sales tax, providing $8 million for new helicopters and $33 million for new fire trucks.

But the entire Board of Supervisors, the sheriff and district attorney opposed the measure, saying it was an attempt to pick the pocket of county law enforcement. County voters rejected the initiative, with 73 percent voting no.

This week, State Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, R-Orange and Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell joined Orange County Fire Authority Chief Chip Prather in blaming state fire officials for not sending enough air support during the early hours of the fire.

Spitzer called the lack of resources being delivered by the state “unconscionable.”

That rankled firefighters, who remember that both Campbell and Spitzer campaigned against their funding measure and signed the ballot arguments against it.

The opposition to Measure D was led by virtually the entire Orange County law enforcement establishment, and its elected political leadership:

The county supervisors, Sheriff Mike Carona, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs and the Orange County Employees Association all fought a bitter campaign against the ballot measure, titled Measure D.

Supervisors Campbell, Spitzer and Chris Norby argued that the union-sponsored initiative sought to cover bad spending practices by the fire authority and dip into critical law enforcement resources….

Campbell saw Measure D as a move by the firefighters’ union to “add new union members.”

He came up with a novel idea for thwarting the ballot initiative: The supervisors placed three other initiatives tinkering with proceeds of the public safety tax on the ballot.

The Register article conveniently does not mention that the paper’s own notoriously right-wing editorial pages – known for a history of virulent anti-tax, anti-union attitudes – also opposed Measure D:

“D is For Deception”

Some political battles remind me of the bloody fight between Stalin’s communist forces and Hitler’s Nazi forces. For whom do you root? You root for a very long war.

At first glance, taxpayers might be justified in taking a similar view with regard to Measure D, the countywide ballot initiative Nov. 8 that pits some of the most aggressive and self-interested government unions against each other.

If the unions spend their dues pounding each other, one might reason, perhaps they will have less money to spend on the liberal causes they typically endorse.

Despite such well-warranted cynicism, on closer examination it is imperative that taxpayers defeat Measure D, which represents a new low in money grabbing by an already well-funded special interest.

The whole of the editorial is a typically disgusting attack on firefighters, government, regulation, etc, concluding that Californians were “weak” to pass Prop 172 in 1993 for public safety funds, even though they did so just a week after the 1993 firestorms had gutted Malibu, Altadena, and Laguna Beach. To Steven Greenhut and the Register editorial board, the firefighters’ union is merely a greedy parasite on the public, using bureaucratic rules to claim they need more fire crews in a cynical ploy to line their own pockets.

The Register was not alone in the attack on firefighters and Measure D. Harry Sidhu, a member of the Anaheim City Council, wrote to the paper to express his opposition to Measure D:

Moreover, while the fire authority has mutual-aid agreements with other agencies to respond to major emergencies, it does not serve the entire county every day. Its mission is to protect the 43 percent of the county’s population that lives in its contract cities and unincorporated areas. Taxpayers in cities with their own fire departments should not be forced to subsidize contract cities.

If passed, Measure D would directly impact countywide law enforcement, countywide criminal prosecutions and countywide jail operations in a negative way. On the other hand, there is no negative impact upon the firefighters should Measure D fail.

In other words, the OCFA only helps those cities too cheap to pay for their own fire departments (the “contract cities”) – so why should Anaheim subsidize them? It’s not like a fire that breaks out in the dense brush of the unincorporated foothills and canyons of eastern OC would *ever* threaten the rest of the county. Oh wait…

In the wake of Measure D’s defeat, Jon Fleischmann of the Flash Report conducted a laudatory interview with former State Sen. John Lewis, who led the campaign against Measure D:

JF: Was there a turning point in the campaign?

JL: No, I don’t think there was a seminal moment where we said “Aha, now we’ll win”.  Instead there were a series of events that each contributed to our victory.  For openers, the unanimity of the Board of Supervisors was key.  If there had been a crack there it would have given fire a huge issue to exploit.  The rapid fire endorsements we received from the Orange County Republican Party, California Republican Assembly, and State Senator Tom McClintock helped immensely with Republican voters.  It is important to note that the Orange County Democrat Party stayed neutral on this race.  Firefighters thought they had that endorsement in the bag.  I know some of the Deputies and OCEA leaders were disappointed that the Dems didn’t endorse against D, but we were ecstatic they stayed neutral.  It showed we were out hustling them in every way.

It was around the time of gaining these great endorsements that Steve Greenhut from the Orange County Register did a great column and series of editorials on the greed of the OCFA union.  He came up with some jaw dropping statistics that really turned public sentiment our way.

Also, I think our opponents late start signaled their over confidence, perhaps they gave too much weight to that early OCFA poll.

The wingnutroots also got involved. Matt Cunningham (aka “Jubal”) and his “OC Blog” gave a great deal of attention to Measure D, leading the online war against adequate fire protection. Matt explained his opposition to Measure D in this post:

It is my belief that government employee unions pose the single greatest domestic threat to local liberty today. They are, as a wise man said, “government organized as a special interest.” Government at all levels — at least in California — is increasingly under their thumb. When fear and money cause our state and local elected officials — and the power of taxation — to be more responsive to the demands of government workers than to taxpaying voters at large, a role reversal occurs and so-called public servants become the masters….

The Democratic Party long ago abased itself to the government employee unions. Republican Party in Orange County remains an institution dedicated to liberty and limited government. Lately, it has become active in fighting for those beliefs at the local level by supporting and opposing candidates for local, “non-partisan” office. it ought to extend that activism by opposing Measure D….

I, for one, have no desire to give the OCPFA any more money. Why feed the beast? It is already the most politically imperious of our local government employees unions, and displays an arrogant penchant for treating the taxpayers’ money as its own.

Orange County’s public employee unions already possess too much power, and I see no reason to change the status quo and direct even more public money to the most politically aggressive one.

The Republican Party of Orange County can do more to defend and eventually expand the realm of liberty here in OC by opposing Measure D, than by remaining on the sidelines. I hope the members of the OC GOP central committee believe likewise.

To Matt, as with Greenhut and the Register editorial board, the issue here wasn’t about fire protection. No, it was about a full-scale attack on basic rights and liberties by an evil “salaried bureaucracy” trying to enrich itself unfairly and illegitimately.

To return to the LA Times article today, some are critical of Chip Prather and the OCFA for apparently driving away some of the volunteer firefighters that used to help staff county engines. Volunteers are definitely a necessary part of adequate fire protection. But they are no substitute for full-time, trained professionals who can rapidly respond to an outbreak of fire. The notion that volunteers, not trained experts, should be responsible for fire protection is an inherently conservative notion – “starve the beast” that is government and force everyone else to shoulder the burdens of social costs, without the financial or material resources to actually meet public needs effectively.

It seems unlikely that Orange County conservatives will be giving up their virulent anti-tax, anti-firefighter crusade even in the aftermath of October’s firestorm. Instead we should expect them to ramp up their argument that private enterprise and the market will do a better job of fighting fires than “greedy” public sector employees. As Bloomberg reported this week, the 2007 fires revealed the growing role of private firefighters:

“What we’re trying to do here is provide our policyholders an additional level of protection,” said Stan Rivera, director of wildfire protection for AIG Private Client Group. The average home insured by the unit is valued at $1.7 million.

AIG this year expanded its Wildfire Protection Unit to 150 ZIP codes in California and Colorado, up from 14 when it was formed in 2005. The unit has had the busiest week since its inception as fires burned at least 719 square miles (1,861 square kilometers) from Santa Barbara to San Diego, destroying 1,342 homes and 34 businesses and causing at least seven deaths.

Special Service

The Wildfire Protection Unit has six trucks outfitted to spray Phos-Chek, the fire retardant used by the U.S. Forest Service. Customers can have Phos-Chek sprayed on brush surrounding their homes before each fire season. During a wildfire, the trucks are sent out whenever a fire comes within three miles of a home and spray all combustible areas.

Such protection doesn’t come cheap. It’s available only to customers of AIG Private Client Group, which serves affluent individuals and their families. The average customer spends $19,000 a year on the insurance, which may also cover yachts, art collections and ransom demands, Rivera said.

AIG Private Client Group has about 55,000 customers throughout the U.S., Rivera said. California is “one of the biggest” markets for the group, he said.

And if you can’t afford such coverage? Well, you’re shit out of luck:

Some victims of the California fires may wish they had their own firemarks. During this week’s wildfires, “there were a few instances where we were spraying and the neighbor’s house went up like a candle,” Crays said.

Unless the conservative assault on public services and social protection from risk is halted and beaten back, that is California’s future.

De Univision:

Los funcinarios dicen que están tomando solamente a criminales, pero los refugiados de fuego diga que no es el caso. La verdad no está clara porque la administración de Bush no es digna de confianza.

There were hurricanes before Katrina, and Southern California wildfires before Witch Creek, Santiago Canyon, and Running Springs. As those of us who have ever lived in SoCal know, the fall winds can easily turn the brown hillsides into menacing flame.

But like the hurricanes spawned by the Atlantic Ocean, the fires spawned by the Santa Ana winds are growing worse. Even though the current danger has not yet passed in SoCal, it is worth examining the links between global warming and wildfire. We’ve known for some time that the two were linked. Perhaps now it is time to finally get serious and do something about it.

The key isn’t merely higher temperatures. At the center of the problem is moisture. California is at the opening stages of the worst water crisis in its modern history. Without enough rainfall, plants and trees will dry out more quickly and more thoroughly, leaving more fuel for fires. From today’s SF Chronicle:

“Fires are burning hotter and bigger, becoming more damaging and dangerous to people and to property,” U.S. Forest Service Chief Gail Kimbell said. “Each year the fire season comes earlier and lasts longer.”

The flames stretching from Malibu to the Mexican border struck during the driest year in Southern California history. Measurements taken by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection detected less than 10 percent moisture in the region’s vegetation. The moisture level in kiln-dried lumber is generally 12 percent.

“They got less rain than they’ve ever gotten,” said Hugh Safford, a Forest Service ecologist. “Any time you have a dry year like this one, you are going to get fires.”

As Paul Rosenberg at OpenLeft notes, however, this has been known since 2003. Other studies make the point even clearer.

The Southwestern US – and the Colorado River basin in particular – has been in a drought since October 1999. As last week’s cover story in the San Diego Reader explained, “As far back as 2004, the U.S. Geological Survey started calling this drought “comparable to or more severe than the largest-known drought in 500 years.” The drought is having a catastrophic effect on vegetation, including the centuries-old oaks that dot the hillsides and canyons of Southern California:

Duncan McFetridge’s oaks and others suffering in the Cleveland National Forest get none of the Sacramento water. And trees are thirsty creatures. They say that a mature oak tree needs 300 to 500 gallons of water a day. But you have to wonder: these trees must have endured droughts like this before, and now they must have more capable roots than ever before. How is it they’re succumbing?

Orrin Davis, whose company Butler Drilling has been drilling water wells in the mountains east of San Diego since the 1960s, says oaks are vulnerable to changes in the water table. “Back in the ’70s, ’80s, you’d have to drill down an average of 400 feet to reach water. Today, it’s 800 to 900 feet. I’ve had to go to 1400 feet. In my 40 years, this is one of the longest droughts. As far as I’m concerned, this drought has been going since the early, mid-’90s.”

He says the die-off has been going on for years. “If it’s true that this is the worst drought for 500 years, these are drought conditions these oak trees have never experienced. And I would estimate Duncan’s oaks were 300 to 400 years old, the bigger ones.”

The lack of rainfall causes a cascade effect on water supplies and, consequently, on vegetation. Without rainfall, cities and developers have to draw down already-stressed aquifers, depleting the soil moisture that helps keep plants somewhat watered even in the dry months. As this is drawn down, the ongoing lack of rainfall means the aquifers aren’t getting replenished. Stresses on the Colorado River mean California must reduce its share of water drawn down from the river. And the ongoing problems with the Sierra snowpack and the Delta mean that Southern California gets less water delivered – reinforcing the stress on groundwater.

Worse, the lack of readily available water could potentially hamper firefighting efforts. Already this week the Metropolitan Water District estimated that over 600 million gallons of water had been used, a significant spike, to knock down the flames. Pumps ran overtime to keep the water pressure high enough for firefighters to use. As global warming distresses water supplies even further, the darkest scenario comes closer to reality – an inability to both supply cities and beat back hotter, more intense wildfire.

And it is not clear, and probably not likely, that there are any new sources of water to develop. This week the New York Times Magazine ran a feature story titled “The Future Is Drying Up” – focusing on the Colorado River drought and responses in Southern Nevada and the Colorado Front Rage to the crisis. Water managers in Colorado are trying to buy rights to agricultural water, both on the Plains and in the Rockies. But those sources are themselves stressed; there isn’t enough to go around. Taking her cues from William Mulholland, Pat Mulroy of the Southern Nevada Water Authority has decided to go after water supplies in the surrounding deserts – but here again it is not certain that the supplies are enough to meet demand.

This drought, so far, is a drop in the bucket compared to megadroughts that hit this state several centuries ago. As Mike Davis recounts in his crucial environmental history of Southern California, Ecology of Fear, researchers have discovered a 200-year period of drought hit the state around the 1200s, and suspect many more exist in the historical climate record. (This is the same drought believed to have forced the dispersal of the Anasazi culture in Arizona.)

Climate change in California is expected to produce a hotter and drier climate, with a reduced snowpack. Precipitation in the Sierra is expected to fall as rain more often than snow, forcing significant shifts in how water is stored. Nobel laureate Steven Chu of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab told the NYT Magazine:

even the most optimistic climate models for the second half of this century suggest that 30 to 70 percent of the snowpack will disappear. “There’s a two-thirds chance there will be a disaster,” Chu said, “and that’s in the best scenario.”

The real crisis we face is a water crisis. Global warming will leave us drier and thirstier before it inundates our coastlines. And the warming climate, combined with reduced water supplies, will make the fires larger and more difficult to control. Just as many climatologists expect a repeat of Hurricane Katrina before long, we must confront the likelihood that the fires and evacuations experienced in SoCal this week will repeat themselves as well, so long as the drought continues.

What to do about this problem? In the next few weeks we’ll continue to discuss that subject here at Calitics. It is worth noting that these fires broke out just a few weeks after the collapse of the special session on water in Sacramento. Republicans, insisting that new dams be part of any water solution, torpedoed Democratic plans to both restore the delta and provide funds to localities to develop sustainable water supplies and, more importantly, stronger conservation measures. The California Republican Party has now apparently decided that the concept of global warming and any effort to do anything about it are their primary targets, and they will do anything to prevent action on global warming or the water crisis. Nevermind the fact that dams are pointless if less rain and snow are falling. Republicans appear quite happy to leave Californians at further risk of catastrophic water shortfalls. In their inaction, California’s future hangs in the balance.

(For live radio coverage, listen live to KPBS. bumped. – promoted by David Dayen)

The old diary is getting full. So please update and add to this new thread. Also, thanks to flickr use vissago for some powerful photos. WE have a new thread here, please post there.  Thanks!

The Los Angeles County Public Health office has updated their 211 page to reflect resources to assist Southland Fires 2007. Here's the page from San Diego County San Diego County Fire information

Google Map with Fire information

KPBS Google Map of San Diego fires 

Blood donations are greatly needed. The San Diego Blood Bank will hold blood drives Tuesday at two wildfire emergency evacuation sites, Qualcomm Stadium and the Del Mar Fairgrounds, officials said. Both drives will begin at 10 a.m. and run until 3 p.m

 Here are some phone numbers to get information:

Animal Evacuations: 818-991-0071
Arrowhead Schools 909-499-9900
Buckweed, Canyon Fire: 323-881-2411
Coronado Hills Fire: 619-590-3160
Grass Valley Fire: 909-383-5688
Harris, Rice, McCoy Fire: 619-590-3160
Irvine: 714-628-7085
Lake Forest 714-628-7085
Malibu: 310-456-2489
Orange County 800-540-8282
Ranch Fire: 626-574-5208
Riverside: 909.988.3650
Roca Fire: 951-940-6985
Santa Clarita Evacuations: 661-295-6366
Santiago Fire: 714-573-6200
Sedgewick Fire: 805-681-5546
Slide and Witch: Fire 619-590-3160
US Forest Line: 626-574-5208

(old information moved under the fold)

UPDATE (4:36pm Shayera) The LA Times is reporting a new fire appears to have broken out in Acton, in Antelope Valley. 15 acres have been burned so far and evacuations are in progress.

UPDATE (4:30pm David) One of the best reporters at the LA Times, Steve Lopez, is down in San Diego County, liveblogging with periodic updates.  Lopez is great at finding those personal stories, so this is well worth checking back on throughout the day.

UPDATE (4:29pm Robert) Mandatory evacuation order lifted for Del Mar. But as Terry notes in the comments, the Del Mar fairgrounds needs masks, eyewash and diabetic testing supplies. Also, pillows, blankets, and air mattresses are in demand. Mothers with babies using the Fair Grounds as a shelter need diapers and baby wipes. They can't take more large animals but they need hay. All 2000 stables are full.

UPDATE (4:11pm Robert) The SoCal Metropolitan Water District says there has been a record 652 million gallon spike in water demand, as pumps are working overtime to provide firefighters with water to fight the flames. Further evidence of the effects of climate change on the landscape…

UPDATE (4:05pm Robert) As Terry notes in the comments, ALL San Diego County schools, public and private, are closed for the remainder of the week. Meanwhile, in the San Bernardino mountains, evacuations are now in effect from Crestline to Big Bear Dam, as the flames move eastward.

 

UPDATE (3:46pm David) I'm slightly unnerved by this, although I understand the need to keep traffic flows moving in an orderly fashion.

 

At about 2:15 p.m., two Jeeps filled with National Guardsmen stopped briefly at the corner of Twin Peaks and Robert Rio roads in Poway. Two National Guardsmen hopped out, and took positions on either side of Robert Rio, decked out in camouflage and holding M-16s.

The Jeeps rumbled on north up Twin Peaks Road, and a block away, two more National Guardsmen jumped out. The troops stopped motorists trying to ride into the side streets.

UPDATE (3:27pm Shayera): hekebolos mentions that Ron Shepston who lives in Silverado Canyon in Orange County is possibly in the path of the Santiago fire. Ron is, as you know, running for Congress in CA-42.

 UPDATE (3:18pm Shayera): Remember Glenn Beck's hateful words from yesterday? Here's what his spokesman had to say today in response to our outrage: A spokesman for Beck expressed surprise that bloggers are seizing on this quotation as an example of incivility. “To most rational people, unfortunately still means unfortunately,” Chris Balfe, the show's producer, tells On Deadline through a spokesman.

UPDATE (2:44pm Shayera): The L.A. Times is reporting that 4 people who were evacuated to Qualcomm staium have died, This brings the total dead to 6. 

UPDATE (2:04pm Lucas): Easterly winds are pushing the Harris Fire away from Northwest Chula Vista and Bonita. Personally good news for me, better news for a lot of folks who were closer to harm's way there.

UPDATE (2:01pm Lucas): Poomacha fire up to 23,000 acres and headed for Palomar Mountain.  President Bush will visit San Diego County on Thursday. quote from UT blog “Alpha Project is distributing masks, food, and water to hundreds of homeless people wandering the streets without direction and shelter.”

UPDATE (1:38pm Lucas): Mandatory evacuation notice for everyone in the La Jolla Reservation area.  Evacuees are told NOT to go to Palomar Mtn. Evac Center.  Go to Borrego Springs.  Encinitas mandatory evacuation of Olivenhain east of Rancho Santa Fe Road and north of El Camino Del Norte, although there are no fires inside the city. Encinitas Senior and Community Center is open for evacuees.

UPDATE (1:29pm Lucas) Poomacha fire has burned 20,000 acres and is expected to merge with the Witch Fire at some point today.  The 76 corridor is being evacuated.

UPDATE (1:19pm Lucas): Reverse 911 evacuation calls have been issued to 1,095 Harmony Grove households as fires south and west of Escondido move on from Mt. Israel.

UPDATE (1:03pm Robert) Voluntary evacuations now in Highland, which is in the flatlands next to San Bernardino as the Grass Valley/Slide fires come down the mountain. SBD Sheriffs plead for mountain residents to evacuate: “You're interfering. You're risking our lives.” 100 buildings lost in Running Springs/Fredalba.

UPDATE (12:57pm Lucas): Checking the most recent updates to the KPBS map, earlier evacuation areas in much of Spring Valley, Bonita, and points north to SDSU are gone.  Evacuation areas immediately east of Hillsdale and Grossmont and Southeast of Lakeside are snug against the south side of I-8 covering Harbison Canyon, Crest, and west Alpine as earlier noted.

UPDATE (12:46pm Lucas): Witch Creek Fire has jumped northwest from Del Dios to the Mount Israel Community. The Ramona waterpump has failed due to power outage, correction power failure has knocked out a water pump in Ramona, knocking out all water pressure- trying to bring in generators.  Boil water in the area indefinitely, water pressure expected to begin coming online this evening.  Councilman Maienschein and staff has toured the Rancho Bernardo area and will be posting a comprehensive list of damaged and destroyed homes soon on the SanDiego.gov website.

UPDATE (12:33pm Lucas): Still only one confirmed death. 22 civilians, 21 firefighters injured. 241,000 acres burned. City of Poway reopening: South of Twin Peaks Road, East of Community Rd to Tierra Bonita in North and Donard to South, West of Ipava (corrected) and West and North of Poway Drive.

UPDATE (12:25pm Lucas) Poomacha fire is established itself on Palomar Mountain, 3,000 acres burned so far.  CalFire team on the way.  Winds throughout the region are swirling making direction tough to deal with.  Aircraft fighting Harris Fire.  Structure losses overnight in Deerborn Valley. San Miguel Peak still has emergency transmitter equipment in tact.  11 major fires burning in SoCal, 8 threatening structures. 25 air tankers in SoCal including DC-10. C-130s requested from military, may arrive late today. 40 helicopters- federal, forest service, DLM, calfire, park service, others. 6 military helicopters. Two Seahawks, 4 Blackhawks.

UPDATE (12:18pm Lucas) Breaking reports of two new fires burning independently on Camp Pendleton

UPDATE (12:16pm Lucas) Residents allowed to return to their homes in Del Mar Heights (South of Via de la Valle, West of 5, North of Torrey Pines Beach) and in Scripps Ranch (South of Beeler Canyon Rd, West of Sycamore Canyon Rd, East of 15 and North of MCAS Miramar).

UPDATE (12:07pm Lucas) Reverse 911 evacuation notices are going out to 924 more homes in Valley Center and Palomar Mountain area. Mission Hills High School has room for 200, Calvin Christian High School can take 100.  Palomar Observatory remains the recommended evac center for Valley Center and Palomar Mtn. areas.

UPDATE (12:00pm Lucas): Bush is blah blahing right now about the fires.  Looking at the KPBS map, evacuation areas ahead of the Harris Fire now include wide swaths of Spring Valley and Bonita but (news to me at least) extends north through parts of Encanto and Lemon Grove up College Avenue all the way to SDSU and near I-8. Wow.

 

UPDATE (11:46am Shayera): The L.A. Times is reporting a second death in the Santa Clarita area. No details have been released.

UPDATE (11:39am Lucas): National Guard Troops are being deployed to Qualcomm and Del Mar Fairgrounds to aid in the evacuation of the elderly out of the fire and smoke.  650 fire crews from throughout the state are now battling fire in Fallbrook, information is difficult to come by from the region.

UPDATE (11:33am Shayera): Reports are saying there is a fire broken out in the Newhall area. It appears to have broken out overnight. As of the time of the report 12 acres had been burned. The fire is being reffered to as the Meadow Ridge incident.

UPDATE (11:25am Lucas): KPBS in San Diego went off the air overnight when its broadcasting antenna was knocked out by fire on Mount San Miguel.  They have moved to 94.9fm for continuing coverage locally.

UPDATE (11:22am Lucas): official tally as of 11am in San Diego is 513,000 people under mandatory evacuation and 12,000 more under voluntary evacuation.  Mission Hills High School will remain open for evacuees for the next two days. Fire on the north side of Lake Hodges has reached the Del Dios community. Reports of houses burning in Quiet Hills and Lomas Serenas.

UPDATE (11:16am Robert) Santiago Fire in OC continues to menace the Portola Hills development but no homes have yet burned. OCFA is less confident about saving homes in Modjeska Canyon, concerned that they do not have enough hand crews or helicopters to fight in the backcountry. Animal shelters are available al El Toro HS, the OC animal shelter near The Block in ORange, and at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. 

UPDATE (10:48 am Shayera): Los Angeles County Fire Department officials will hold community meetings in Malibu and Agoura Hills over the next two days to give residents updates on the status of the fires, road closures and evacuation sites.

The first meeting will be held at 7 tonight at Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Drive. The second meeting will be held tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center, 27040 Malibu Hills Road, Calabasas.

 UPDATE (10:31am Lucas): Mandatory evacuation orders are being issued via reverse 911 to about 1200 homes in Fairbanks Ranch.  Evacuate to Encinitas Senior Center or Carlsbad High School.

UPDATE (10:23am Lucas): San Pasqual Academy suffered major damage. Poomacha fire has burned 40 homes on Rincon and La Jolla Reservations and some on Barona reservation.  Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento began delivering supplies early this morning.

UPDATE (9:45am Lucas): Comprehensive fire update via UT Blog:

The Harris Fire is 70, 000 acres and 5% contained.  Firefighters are looking for full control of this fire on November 4th. 250 residences have been damaged and 200 have been destroyed. 5 firefighters and 20 civilians have been burned and there was 1 civilian fatality. Currently we have 65 Engines, 9 fire crews, 2 dozers, 5 water tenders, 3 airtankers, 2 helicopters, 2 helitankers, (500 firefighters).

The Witch Fire is 164,000 acres and 1 percent contained. There have been 7 injuries to firefighters and to 2 civilians. Communities Threatened: San Diego, Poway, Ramona, Escondido, Lakeside, Valley Center, San Marcos, Rancho Santa Fe, Rincon, Wildcat Canyon. Currently there are 218 engines, 17 dozers, 14 fire crews, 17 water tenders (1492 firefighters). 500 residences destroyed – 250 damaged, 100 commercial properties destroyed – 75 damaged, 50 outbuildings destroyed – 50 damaged.

The Rice Fire is 6,100 acres and 0% contained, firefighters are looking for full containment on November 1st. 500 residences have been destroyed and 30 have been damaged. 1 Firefighter has been injured. Currently there are 55 engines, 6 fire crews, 1 dozer (170 firefighters). Fire is making major runs toward Fallbrook, and may burn in to Santa Margarita and Sandia Creek drainages. It is anticipated this fire will combine up with Rosa fire which started in Riverside. 

The Poomacha Fire is 1,000 acres and 0% contained. This fire is located at Highway 76 and Pauma Valley (Thomas Brother Map Page 409 E7). The fire originated in a structure and spread into the vegetation.  There has been 8 injuries to firefighters. There are 15 engines, 2 water tenders (60 firefighters). The fire started on the La Jolla Indian Reservation. The fire has spread into Valley Center and Yellow Brick Road areas. Law Enforcement has started the reverse 911 to initiate evacuations of entire Hwy 76 corridor.

The McCoy Fire is a U.S. Forest Service fire and is 300 acres and 50% contained, full containment is expected on the 23rd. 1 structure has been destroyed and there have been no reported injuries.

UPDATE (9:40am Lucas): UT Blog update on Witch Fire progress. 35 structures damanged in Rancho Santa Fe over night, mostly homes. Las Colinas neighborhood was burned through destroying several homes.  Now jumping the San Dieguito River and heading into Fairbanks Ranch. The fire line is San Dieguito Road with tanker planes dropping fire retardant.

UPDATE (9:25am Lucas): Evacuation update for Coastal areas from UT blog: A mandatory evacuation is ordered for the following areas within the City of Del Mar: All areas east of Crest Road, San Dieguito Road, Oribia Road, Avenida Primavera (along Crest Road), Serpentine Drive, Gatun Street, Balboa Avenue, Zapo Street. Other areas of the city have not been issued a mandatory evacuation order. However, it is strongly suggested that all residents pack necessary belongings and be prepared to evacuate if a mandatory order is issued. Del Mar residents who are unable to self-evacuate should call 858-704-3694.

In Solana Beach; A voluntary evacuation is strongly recommended for the following areas within the City of Solana Beach: All areas east of Interstate 5 (I-5), Areas along the north border of the city, between I-5 and Highway 101.

UPDATE (9:23am Lucas): CalFire rep is talking about the Santa Ana winds starting to break down in some areas, allowing firefighters to get ahead of flames in places.  Poomacha Fire updated numbers: 800 acres burned, evacuees directed to Palomar Observatory.  Fire is burning north from Lake Hodges to the Quiet Hills area of Escondido with firefighters stationed at houses and helicopters making water drops. UCSD Medical Center is open despite some reports to the contrary.  As many as 1,000 houses now destroyed.  Fixed-wing tankers are in the air making drops on Harris and Witch Creek Fires.

UPDATE (9:10am Lucas): from DailyKos liveblog “Mayor Sanders is asking for licensed doctors and nurses to relieve current medical staff at Qualcomm Stadium. Licensed personnel willing to volunteer for an 8-10 hour shift are asked to report to Gate “A” at Qualcomm Stadium.”

UPDATE (8:55am Lucas) I-15 is now fully open in both directions in North County San Diego.

 UPDATE (8:45am David) I'm hearing Michael Chertoff speaking which scares the heck out of me.  The calvary is coming (Could they, um, not come)!  Word of a new fire in the Rancho Cucamonga area around the 210 and 215 Freeways. 

UPDATE (8:23am Lucas): SDG&E is requesting power conservation all day.  Several transmission lines are down and transformer explosions are a fire risk.  San Pascual Fire was started by exploding transformer.  Overtaxing the lines could lead to further failure.

UPDATE (8:20am Lucas): Witch Fire update from CalFire verbatim with breaks removed from UT Fireblog: “* 164,000 acres. One percent contained.
* Seven firefighters and one civilian have been injured. Two additonal injuries were reported this morning – it is unknown as yet if they were firefighters or civilians. 500 homes destroyed. 250 damaged. 100 commercial properties destroyed, 75 damaged.  50 outbuildings destroyed, 50 damaged. Winds are blowing south and south west at 10 t0 20 miles per hour. The temperature is 75 degrees, humidity is at 6 percent. The fire is passing through several communites including parts of San Diego, Poway, Ramona, Lakeside, Valley Center, San Marcos, Rincon, Wildcat Canyon and Rancho Santa Fe, said Cal Fire Capt. Don Camp. The fire is burning between Interstates 5 and 15 and is heading west towards the beach.

UPDATE (8:16am Lucas): Total Evacuees now at 500,000 throughout the county.  U-Haul is offering free storage for 30 days on a first come/first served basis.  Anyone with air mattresses, padding, blankets, sleeping bags- bedding is in shortest supply at Qualcomm and presumably elsewhere.  People were sleeping on the asphalt in the Qualcomm parking lot last night.

UPDATE (7:50am Lucas): Fire Stat updates. Rice Fire: 6100 acres burned, 1 injury, 500 homes burned, 30 damaged. Winds at 50mph, burning on both sides of I-15 towards Fallbrook, may merge with Riverside's Rosa Fire.  Fallbrook could be threatened in 12 hours, Fallbrook and Oceanside in 24 hours. 0% containment.  Harris Fire: 70,000 acres burned, 200 homes destroyed, 250 damaged, homes destroyed could reach 500.  Fire moving rapidly Southwest into Chula Vista/ Otay Lakes area. 5% contained.

(Bumped. See also the video thread. And, feel free to post short diaries of your own if you have anything else to update. – promoted by Brian Leubitz)

Please see our new fire thread here.

As we all know, the Los Angeles and San Diego areas are getting hit by some horrific fires. The fires burning right now are in occupied areas. A number of our readers (including me) live near these burns.

Bloodmobiles will be at Qualcomm Stadium until 3:30pm today and at Qualcomm and Del Mar Fairgrounds tomorrow. Give if you can. Stay safe. And drop us a line here if you need anything.

Open Evacuation Centers in San Diego (partial): Qualcomm Stadium, PETCO Park, Steele Canyon High School, Campo Community Center, Mount Carmel High School, Santana High, Escondido High, San Marcos High School, Chula Vista High School, Mission Hills Church (Escondido), Grossmont High, Granite Hills High, new: Carlsbad High, Encinitas Senior Center, New Community Church in Vista, Faith Chapel in Spring Valley.
Google Map with Fire information.  

UPDATE: (8:36pm Lucas) Eastbound 76 is now closed at Melrose Drive in eastern Oceanside.  Fires have moved into Fairbanks Ranch and residents of Del Mar are being told to leave. Anyone unable to self-evacuate should call 858-704-3694.  New fire reported right now. Tierrasanta at Santo Rd. and 52. No details yet…totally new area. “Probably the worst time of day to see something like this.”

UPDATE: (8:29pm Lucas) 6 firefighters in critical condition around the corner from me at the UCSD Burn Center. Rice Canyon fire still 0% contained.  Also to reiterate- newest evacuation order includes coastal areas of Torrey Pines, Del Mar, and Solana Beach.  This fire is going all the way to the ocean and it's doing it soon apparently. UPDATED UPDATE: Cowles Mountain fire now fully controlled. I didn't even know there WAS a Cowles Mountain fire.

UPDATE: (8:13pm Lucas): 2,300 inmates being added to the firefighting per the Governor. 34 injuries now reported.  Firefighters are reporting losing valuable time due to people refusing to evacuate. PLEASE just go if directed.  Even if you think you'll be fine, other people won't be. 

UPDATE: (8:02pm Lucas): Proctor Valley Rd. has been breached between Chula Vista and Jamul.  Southeast of Lake Poway there are reports of multiple structures burning.  Lomas Serenas in Escondido has multiple houses burning- 320 home development.  

UPDATE: (7:59pm Lucas) Craigslist community section coming through in the clutch. 

UPDATE (7:43pm Lucas): LA update per comment at TBogg- Agua Dulce and Castai fires are arson. Who hates America again?

UPDATE (7:40pm Lucas): All wholesale from UT blog: Elderly are being evacuated from Del Mar Fairgrounds by ambulances from Orange and Riverside Counties. “Witch Creek Fire is now 145,000 acres and 0% contained. The cause is under investigation. 600 structures have been destroyed (500 residences, 50 outbuildings and 100 commercial properties). 300 structures have been damaged (250 residences, 75 commercial properties and 50 outbuildings). There has been 7 injuries to firefighters and 1 injury to a civilian. Communities threatened: San Diego, Poway, Ramona, Escondido, Lakeside, Valley Center, San Marcos, Rancho Santa Fe. Currently there are 89 engines, 9 fire crews, 10 dozers, 2 water tenders — about 625 firefighters. The ICP has been moved to Kit Carson Park (at Kit Carson Park and Bear Valley Parkway).”

UPDATE (7:25pm Lucas): Del Mar Polo Grounds under mandatory evacuation. West of Black Mountain Rd., South of Del Dios Hwy, North of  Sorrento Valley Road all the way to the ocean. Not good.

UPDATE (7:05pm Lucas): Mandatory evacuation order now for Bella Lago community in Chula Vista.

UPDATE (7:03pm Lucas): Reports coming in about price gouging and false evacuation orders. Good to see people banding together…assholes. 

UPDATE (6:53pm Lucas) Live footage of a bulldozer in Ramona literally pushing fire across an open plain.  Recent interview with a woman who evacuated from low-income housing commenting on how she would have no place to go- no other low-income options, they'll end up not being able to afford a new place period. UPDATED UPDATE (6:56) what was presumed to be a backfire is actually reaction to spot fires popping up all over Ramona breaching dozer lines.

UPDATE (6:33pm Lucas): 70 homes confirmed lost in Poway. Voluntary Evac in Carlsbad south of Airport Road. NBC Today Show and Nightly News will report from San Diego tomorrow.  U-T blog has been transferred to blogger to handle the volume. 

 UPDATE (5:52pm Lucas): Escondido has said residents who have been evacuated will not be allowed back for at least 24 hours.  Evacuation area is now south of 52 in the Scripps Ranch area.  Del Mar Fairgrounds have reached full capacity and is now closed.  El Camino High School in Oceanside is now open for evacuees.

UPDATE (5:45pm Lucas): MCAS Miramar is evacuating aircraft to other parts of California.  Mayor Cheryl Cox of Chula Vista: Voluntary evac still in effect, needs cots, air mattresses, sleeping bags at Chula Vista High.  Chula Vistans only- don't clog the highways.  Fires are continuing to approach through Otay Lakes towards Chula Vista.

UPDATE (5:25pm Julia): Just heard from the locals in Potrero that the deceased was wheelchair bound and thus was unable to esscape the fire.  Just awful.

UPDATE (5:00pm Lucas): At least 100 homes burned in Fallbrook.  Fire in the southeast appears to be moving northwest towards Chula Vista.  Mt. Helix evacuations and homes destroyed.

UPDATE (4:53pm Lucas): Insurance reps are setting up “one-stop-shopping” location for relief, probably but not definitely at Qualcomm.  

UPDATE (4:41pm Lucas): Qualcomm desperate for: Prepared Food, milk, ice, cots, blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, sunscreen, pet food, air mattresses, canopies for shade, paper towels, handi-wipes, toilet paper, paper plates, cups, utensils, pet food, disposable styrofoam coolers, cell phone chargers/batteries, cash. Can be dropped at Gate P at the stadium via Friars Rd. No homecooked food.

UPDATE (4:34pm Lucas): PETCO Park now open for evacuees.  Customs Enforcement is preparing to evacuate its Otay Mesa detention center.  Mesa Grande Indian Reservation evacuated.  Countywide request for horse trailers.  El Cajon evac centers: El Cajon Animal Shelter for household pets and small livestock. Westfield Parkway Mall for large livestock and RVs/Campers. New Home Depot location open for large livestock and RVs/Campers.

UPDATE (4:27pm Lucas): Rancho Bernardo threat has likely passed. Rancho Santa Fe still burning, Kearny Mesa still manned by firefighters.  At one point today downtown SD was protected by only one fire engine. No damage yet to Scripps Ranch. Out of Black Mountain area.  Still moving west, Firefighters will be out all night.  Text SDFIRE to 85183 for updates.  Evacuations going well, vital that people leave immediately when directed.

UPDATE (4:23pm Lucas): 45000 residents being evacuated from Rice fire; 6-10 structures lost, 1 minor firefighter injury.  Harris 20K+ acres. NE influence towards Otay Mesa and Lakes. San Marcos fire 100% contained.  Basecamp for Harris fire at Gillespie Field.  Witch Creek fire extensive movement through Escondido and City of San Diego, 20K+ acres, containment unknown. Mapping tomorrow.

UPDATE (Monday 4:07pm Lucas): “Many” structures destroyed in Rice Canyon fire, 2 injured, 0% containment, 750 acres, no estimate on containment.

UPDATE: (Monday 4:03pm Lucas) Governor Schwarzenegger pays surprise-ish visit to burn victims.  There are currently 18 victims being treated at the UCSD Burn Center in Hillcrest.  Fiesta Island has now opened to take 500 owners and big animals as of 4pm.

UPDATE: (Monday 3:56pm Lucas) Valley Oaks mobile home park has been completely destroyed.  Mandatory evac: West Alpine, West Eastlake, San Miguel Ranch areas and Rolling Hills Ranch areas.

UPDATE: (Monday 3:50PM Lucas) Check New map with partial info in pictoral form.  Carlsbad east of I-5, parts of Del Mar being evacuated.  El Toro in Orange County. is opening an Evac Center for Fallbrook.  Pendleton is receiving evacuees from Lakeside and Fallbrook.  Power has been fully restored from earlier outages.  Evac for DoD and Military personnel at 32nd Street Naval Base and Coronado.

UPDATE: (Monday 3:47pm Lucas) Chula Vista High School is receiving evacuees from the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro areas

UPDATE: Monday 2:51PM by Brian: Lots of news. The Rice fire has jumped I-15 at Highway 395, with the possibility of arson involved. Chula Vista is now under an optional evacuation order, and Scripps Ranch is entirely closed off, except to exit to the South on I-15. We'll try to time-stamp the updates for now on. There is also a report of a new fire in the Stevenson Ranch area. No real details as of right now.

UPDATE: Monday 3:05PM by Julia: Cell networks are down in SD, overloaded by the traffic.
(old updates over the flip)

UPDATE by Brian: Wow, this could end up being a disaster of historic proportions. Currently the majority of North San Diego is under an evacuation order from I-5 eastward, Nort of 56. Like Shayera said, stay safe and follow all suggestions of the firefighters. And, of course, our thoughts go out to the firefighters that have already been injured, and those currently battling the blazes. Constant updates at the U-T.

UPDATE by Julia: The lone death came from the tiny town of Potrero, they very same town that has been battling Blackwater.  One of the arguments against placing the training base there was the high risk of fire like the Cedar fire.  And now it is happening. 250,000 evacuated and climbing.

UPDATE by Lucas: Rancho Santa Fe is being evacuated as the winds shift and the fire heads in that direction.  Chula Vista in the southwest has activated its emergency plans as well.  Major Evacuation Centers are now set up at Qualcomm Stadium and the Del Mar Fairgrounds as well as smaller sites at schools and community centers throughout the county.  UPDATED UPDATE by Lucas: “Very good chance” that the fire will ultimately reach the coast.

UPDATE by Lucas: Live footage on the news of charred houses in Rancho Bernardo- lots of them.  Fires in Poway and southern Escondido.  Some areas of San Marcos are being reopened. Large animals are being evacuated to the Lakeside Rodeo (east county is horse country).  Del Mar Fairgrounds is only a temporary evac point, no overnight.  People will be sent elsewhere overnight.  Qualcomm Stadium is likely to be open for overnight.  I-15 north of 56 is still mostly closed.  21,000 are currently without power according to SDG&E.  Mira Mesa High School evac point is at capacity and thus closed to new people.  Parts of Leucadia and Lakeside are now under mandatory evacuation in addition to Rancho Santa Fe.

UPDATE by Lucas: North County Fire Chief says the Witch Fire will reach the coast.  Anyone downwind should start making plans to leave. UPDATED UPDATE by Lucas: Flames are in sight of Pomerado Hospital, cresting the hills to the east at about 11am.  Patients are being evacuated via schoolbus and mechanics are pulling firefighting equipment.

UPDATE by Lucas: Officials in Solana Beach are going door to door in some neighborhoods west of I-5 advocating voluntary evacuation.  First evacuations west of I-5. UPDATED UPDATE by Lucas: Evacuations have begun in Del Mar as well.

UPDATE by Lucas: San Diego Unified School District has now closed and will be closed tomorrow. Parents are asked to pick up their kids.

UPDATE by Lucas: Clear Channel radio is now back up after being knocked off. 10,000+ now at Qualcomm according to the U-T.  The Del Mar Racetrack's horse stalls are now full.  South Bay is currently doing alright, the fire has not yet burned into Chula Vista.

UPDATE by Lucas: At least 8 different fires are currently burning throughout San Diego County.  All residents of Solana Beach have been advised to prepare for evacuation extending the earlier voluntary partial evacuation. Call has been put out for pre-packaged food, cots, bedding, sleeping bags, etc. for Qualcomm as people start looking towards spending the night.  Weather service is saying “reason to be optimistic on Wednesday.”  That's a long time from now.

UPDATE by Shayera: The Los Angeles County Health Official is issuing an alert due to the quality of the air: County issues health alert due to smoky air.

UPDATE by Lucas: SDSU has cancelled classes for the rest of the day and tomorrow. National Guard is now on standby. Miramar College is closed.  Community of Esmerelda in South County near San Ysidro is being closed down.

UPDATE by David: Here's a little something from America's asshole, Glenn Beck:

 

“I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today.”

UPDATE by Lucas: Fallbrook evacuations are beginning now in the eastern half of the community.  Valley Center mandatory evacuations have begun in the Bear Valley area with Valley Center High School as the evacuation center.  Evacuation centers are starting to open ad hoc in El Cajon for people and livestock.

UPDATE by Lucas: San Ysidro High School, previously designated as an evacuation center, is being evacuated.  Scharzenneger press conference starting now.

UPDATE by Lucas: Office is closing now so I'm heading home to pack up just in case and then get back online in a bit for more updates.  Latest now is that Scripps Ranch is being told to pack up and leave and that there are new evacuations to the south in the Otay Mesa area.  Others can jump in with details for a while or I'll be back whenever I can.