California Fires, Day 4

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California Fires, Day 4

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WEDNESDAY:

*Fires have reached Nuclear Plant: Fire can be seen up and down a hillside across Interstate 5 from the San Onofre nuclear power plant in northern San Diego County. Some flames are creeping under the large power lines -- some of which feed into Camp Pendleton -- that stretch from the Oceanside generating plant, operated by Southern California Edison.  

*Six undocumented Mexican immigrants were arrested today by U.S. Border Patrol agents at Qualcomm Stadium, after a report that they were stealing food and water meant for evacuees, according to spokesman Damon Foreman

*Cal Fire officals agreed to add 14 military aircraft, including water-dropping helicopters and C-130 warplanes, to the fire fights in Lake Arrowhead and San Diego.

*California Senator Dianne Feinstein "I think with the Cedar Fire and the tremendous loss there and now these fires and the tremendous loss here, all in four years, the message is loud and clear to the board of supervisors and your county and city planning departments. Begin to take a look at both the building codes as well as the zoning. Is it smart to put new housing developments in Santa Ana wind areas in increasingly dry territory abutting hillsides which remain year in, year out tinder dry?"

*An unmanned aircraft belonging to space agency NASA also joined the fight. The remote-controlled Ikhana craft is equipped with sophisticated imaging equipment that will enable it to peer through heavy smoke to identify hot-spots and gauge temperatures.

*The National Terror Alert Response Center report said, "We are NOT implying that the California fires are an act of terrorism; however, the threat of pyro-terrorist attacks pose a significant risk to the U.S. and the fires in California and Greece earlier this year should be a wake-up call."  

*According to notes from CNN's Monday news meeting network president Jon Klein tells employees to use the California fire tragedy to "push" their "Planet in Peril" special, but warns reporters not to "irresponsibly link" the fires to "Global Warming."  

*The FBI, ATF, the Orange County Fire Authority and the California Department of Forestry will announce shortly that the massive Santiago Canyon Fire - which has caused an estimated $10 million in damage - is being officially declared an arson, and a $50,000 reward is being offered to find the arsonist. 

*Wind was reported blowing at a sustained speed of 21 to 36 mph in some areas Wednesday, considerably less than the gusts of up to 100 mph earlier in the week.

*Twenty-one firefighters and at least 24 others have been injured. One person was killed by the flames, and the San Diego medical examiner's officer listed four other deaths as connected to the blazes.

*Major fires now include the San Diego fires, some of which have merged as well as the Lake Arrowhead fires.  All other fires in California are now at 50% containment or more.   

*California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has declared an insurance state of emergency stemming from the wildfires raging in Southern California.  The declaration allows out of state claims adjustors to come to California to process insurance claims.  Typically, insurance adjustors have to be licensed in the state.

*CAL ISO has declared a local electricity emergency for the region.  If a critical southern transmission hub of the region's electrical system is destroyed much of southern California could be in teh dark, losing all electrical power.

*Guacamole prices headed higher! Emergency officials say 20,000 acres of avocado trees in northern San Diego County have been lost, at least a third of the state's crop, with another 15,000 acres threatened by flames. 

*Fourteen thousand evacuees spent a second night at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium.  "This is a very sad and hard time for me, but this is pretty well organized," says Michelle Christian, who fled her home in Ramona on Saturday night, taking her 18-month-old son and her dog to the stadium.  Jennifer Dillon said she was grateful for clowns and face painters who roamed the stadium grounds, helping to make kids laugh.  Booths were set up in every corner offering "everything from free phone calls to any place in the country to insurance claims help," she says.  

*NUCLEAR PLANT 6 MILES FROM FIRES! Southern California wildfires moved 6 miles closer Wednesday to two nuclear reactors at the San Onofre power plant in northern San Diego County, but the utility that operates it says it is not in imminent danger. A fire at Camp Pendleton to the south of the only nuclear power plant in Southern California is about a mile from offices on the outskirts of the San Onofre property, but it is not that close to the two reactors.  Electricity transmission lines near the San Onofre nuclear power plant were threatened.

*The Witch fire and Poomacha fire in northern San Diego County merged into an uncontained complex of fires covering 223,000 acres. The complex threatened the Palomar Mountain area and communities including Vista, Valley Center and Julian.

*Two fires buring at Camp Pendelton have reached Interstate 5.  The freeway is closed in both directions, effectively cutting of Los Angeles from San Diego to non authorised personell.  Both Camp Pendelton fires are not contained.  The fire jumped the freeway and burned grass all the way to the beach. 

*The eucalyptus trees that are such a feature in many towns around San Diego are a worry for firefighters. The intense heat of the wirldfires might cause these highly flammable trees to burst into flame.  

* While many evacuees sought refuge in school gyms and a San Diego stadium, the well-heeled chose different accommodations.  Shutters on the Beach and the Viceroy in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills' Peninsula and Four Seasons hotels were booked for the rest of the week with guests who had fled the fires in Malibu and San Diego. 

*"This is the largest mass evacuation of a natural disaster in California history," said Daniel Berlant, spokesman for the state's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.  

*Malibu fire: Containment around 75 percent. Destroyed six homes, two businesses and a church. Damaged nine homes, five commercial buildings. Four people injured. About 1,500 people, including several celebrities, evacuated.  

*About 60 Mexican firefighters crossed the border to help fight the California wildfires — then returned home as a separate blaze roared up on the Mexican side. 

*Los Angeles County Fire Officials are reporting 80% containment of the Buckweed fire.  Destroyed 15 homes, 15 outbuildings, two bridges and 40 vehicles. One fatality, four people injured. About 15,000 people evacuated.

*The California Highway Patrol arrested an adult male who was caught Wednesday setting a brush fire in San Bernadino County, near Lake Arrowhead. San Bernadino County is another area hit hard by the fires, but it is not known if the suspect, John Hund, 49, of Hesperia, was responsible for the earlier fires. 

* “One reason why we have the fires in California is global warming,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters Tuesday, stressing the need to pass the Democrats’ comprehensive energy package. 

*As of this morning, over 360,000 homes have been evacuated, between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people have been displaced, 470 square miles have been burned, and over 1,500 homes lost.  10,000 firefighters are in place as are over 90 aircraft, including 6-9 federal aircraft.  18 firefighters have been injured, 5 people have been confirmed dead, and more than 50 injured.  68,000 homes are still in danger and Governor Schwarzenegger has formally requested that southern California be declared a federal disaster area.  On Wednesday, responding to a late-night request from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bush went a step further and issued the broader major disaster declaration.

*As predicted the winds had died down significantly from Tuesday to Wednesday and are only a problem in some of the higher elevation canyons.   Californians were seen cleaning up their yards this morning and moving toward a restoration phase of the firestorm that has forced upward of 1 million people to evacuate their homes.  Soot, ash, and debris has covered most of southern California, with teh highest levels of ash in the path of the smoke plumes.  Plants were turned black from the soot and cars were powdered with grey ash. 

The weather is better for residents as well as firefighters this morning.  Winds are a non-factor, humidity has gone up, and the temperatures have decreased to about 80 degrees.  The heat and dry air were a manifestation of the Santa Ana wind phenomenon, which is an annual occurance in southern California. 

TUESDAY:

*At 3 p.m., the National Weather Service's high wind warning expired, as winds began to taper off.  

*Politics, Reid - Fires are Bush's Fault

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the administration has not put a high enough priority on preventing catastrophic fires in the West. "We have fought for years during this Bush administration to have money for wildfire suppression," Reid said. "It takes effort to prepare the landscape so that these fires don't burn the way they have been."  

*San Diego fires so erratic and powerful authorities estimate they cannot stop it from reaching the Pacific ocean.  It is now estimated that about 1 million people have been evacuated from their homes, based on 3 people average per household.  350,000 homes have been evacuated in southern California as of today.

*Some hotels in Orange and San Diego counties are reporting vacancies tonight,signaling that people may have connected with family and friends and found alternate places to stay during evacuations.  It may also signal that some families are going back to their homes after the danger had passed. 

*National Guard deployed in Poway.  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.  

*US President George W. Bush will travel to California on Thursday to get a firsthand glimpse of areas ravaged by devastating wildfires, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Tuesday. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff flew to southern California and is presently in a press conference.

*It seems the fight with fire may be turning in favor of California residents, at least in some areas.  Residents evacuated Monday night from eastern Chula Vista can return to their homes. The fire danger has eased for Rolling Hills and Bella Lago.

*The Malibu fire is now cornered in unpopulated canyons that are too steep for firefighters to go in to.  Aircraft will drop fire retardant to limit flare ups from hot spots near Malibu.  "We can't get in there in a canyon, we'd have to hike down, and you're basically sending firefighters on a suicide mission," said a firefighter. 

*Four San Diego County evacuees have died in the last two days, two in the process of being moved from medical facilities, a county medical examiner official said. 

*Two fires have erupted on Camp Pendleton, officials said.  One has forced evacuation of Marines from the 1st Marine regiment to a safer spot on the sprawling base. So far, no housing units are in immediate danger, although residents of several areas have been on standby since Monday for possible evacuation if the Rice fire burning in Fallbrook pushed onto the base. 

*The mountain communities of Running Springs and Green Valley had lost a combined 100 houses at least. At the hour, however, it appeared that the fire had skirted the rustic downtown of Running Springs, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Bob Poole said. But homes outside the town center continued to catch fire. 

*A statement from San Diego County officials said approximately 513,000 people in the district had received mandatory evacuation orders and an additional 12,000 people had been advised to leave their homes.

*Area burned in California close to that of small country: Luxembourg or Singapore and Guam combined.  

*The ridges above Majesto Canyon are completely engulfed in 50-75 feet high flames and no fire fighters able to battle them. The canyon was too narrow and the heat and flames were too intense to try to save 330 homes in the canyon, it was not immediately clear how many were burned. Nearly all the residents evacuated in the early morning hours, and the few who were left fled at about quarter to 11 this morning.
 

*Latest high resolution picture of California Wildfires from NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/193857main_wildfire_oct22_full.jpg

*US Navy orders sailors out of barracks and onto ships.  Barracks will be used to house evacuees of fires in southern California.  More than 346,000 homes have been ordered evacuated in San Diego County.

*The 10,000 estimated people who spent last night at Qualcomm stadium were in a 'jovial mood.' They had plenty of water and food, TV screens showed local news broadcasts of teh fires, and tents were provided for those who had no make shift shelters.  Media reports are comparing this experience with the Hurricane Katrina events in New Orleans. 

*Environmentalists blamed for California fires.  Los Angeles Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky blamed environmental restrictions for standing in the way of fire protection in the Malibu area.  "The Coastal Commission believes that every piece of chaparral is an environmentally sensitive plant…You’ve got to be realistic. This is the real world," he said. 

*The Magic fire was caused by an accidental spark created by construction workers laboring on the corner of Old Road and Magic Mountain Parkway, said Capt. Mike Brown of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The fire is burning through an area without homes, and firefighters want to keep it contained behind a fireline in a riverbed near Highway 126, he said.

*The Ranch fire in Castaic has burned 54,518 acres and is 10% contained, the U.S. Forest Service said. There are 767 firefighters battling the blaze, which is moving southwest. So far, three homes, 14 boats and a storage yard have been destroyed, and about 500 homes, 50 commercial buildings and 50 outbuildings are threatened. Evacuations are mandatory in Chiquito Canyon, Hasley Canyon, Val Verde Canyon, Hopper Canyon and Fillmore. 

*Harris fire splits into two prongs and threatens Otay Lakes city and Bonita city, near the Mexcican border.  Fire authorities are complaining about lack of resources like helicopters. Donovan State Prison in Otay Mesa near the U.S.-Mexico border is in the path of the Harris fire and is being evacuated. Prisoners are being taken to other jails.

*Congressman and Presidential candidate, Duncan Hunter announced that six C130s are en route to San Diego from Colorado and Wyoming and should arrive at 2:30. One of the planes can dump fire retardant on a half-mile strip in one minute. 

*Santiago fire, east of Mission Viejo, in Orange County, is moving south toward Modjeska canyon.  3000 people have been evacuated. The fire was started by an arsonist in 3 different areas. 

*Insurance companies estimate $2 billion in damage so far, by using the October 2003 fires as a benchmark.   

*Malibu fire 15% contained, headed toward open water, erratic winds still may cause shifts toward homes.  Firefighting resources have been reduced to 850 personel. Expected to be extinguished on Friday.

*Fires in Santa Clarita and Irvine force cancellations of filming for the following TV shows: 24, NCIS, Cold Case, The Riches and Big Shots. 

*Fire crews from Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, and Wyoming have joined the fire fight in California. 

*The Marine base at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego, one of the largest in the United States, was on alert for possible evacuation of its 60,000 people, including families. 

*The Stevenson Ranch fire, known as the Magic fire and the Buckweed fire in Santa Clarita have been contained to the point that most advisories to the public have been lifted.  The Magic fire is moving through mountain brush toward Ventura city.  However, if the winds change to the south it will threaten Porter Ranch, Simi Valley, and San fernando Valley.  2 fatalities have been confirmed in Santa Clarita.

*At Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, near Oceanside, about 40 aircraft that included F-18 fighter jets, C-130 cargo planes and marine helicopters were evacuated to other bases in California and Arizona.

*U.S. President George W. Bush declared a federal emergency for seven counties, a move that will speed disaster-relief efforts. He also sent federal disaster officials to California. 

*Thousands more residents were ordered to evacuate their homes Tuesday, bringing the number of people chased away by the wind-whipped flames that have engulfed Southern California to at least 300,000.

By day three, the dozen wildfires had burned more than 1,200 buildings, including 1000 homes and set 245,957 acres - 384 square miles - ablaze, and the destruction may only be the start for the region. Tuesday's forecast called for hotter temperatures and more explosive Santa Ana gusts.

*Personal observations included much weaker winds and gusts over night, however many more branches and loose debris on roads and in yards.  The sky is clear in certain areas of Los Angeles and completly engulfed by smoke in others.  The air is very dry and breathing is still difficult.  Most people have stayed in doors last night and throughout the day as the particulate matter in the air, known as PM10, is both invisible and odorless, due to its microscopic size. 

MONDAY:

*Soon after nightfall, fire officials announced that 500 homes and 100 commercial properties had been destroyed by a fire in northern San Diego County that exploded to 145,000 acres, said Roxanne Provaznik, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry.

*At Castle Kashan, 79-year-old owner, Lilly Lawrence, suddenly appeared in a dressing gown, slippers and sunglasses to see what could be retrieved from the wreckage of her home.  Ms Lawrence, is the daughter of a former Iranian oil minister and is known locally as Princess Lilly.  The property was in escrow to be sold for $17 million.  She lost paintings, Fabergé eggs, and an extensive collection of Elvis memorabilia. "My possessions don't possess me. My house does not possess me," she said. "I'm thinking about our boys in Iraq."  

*Forecast for Tuesday: The Santa Ana winds were forecast to gust through the mountain passes and canyons at up to 90 mph (145 kph), while temperatures were set to top 90 degrees (32 C). 

*200,000+ acres have now been burned in 7 California counties. 

*San Diego County Sheriffs revealed that a total of 194,673 households had been evacuated in rural areas across the region. 

*128 homes destroyed by fire in mountain resort town of Lake Arrowhead.  Fierce winds prohibit use of fixed wing and helicopter aircraft.  Fires jumped 10 lane highway in minutes.   

*Firefighters from Arizona and Nevada to be called up for fire duty in california.  San Diego now has only 100 firefighters to protect entire city of San Diego, stretched to the limit.

*10,000 expected to spend the night at Qualcomm stadium in San Diego.  Water and food being brought in by emergency personel. 500-700 familes expected to take shelter at the Del Mar Fairground.  At San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium, home to the NFL's Chargers, thousands of people huddled in eerie silence on the bleachers, staring at muted TV news reports of the wildfires. A lone concession stand served coffee and doughnuts.  Many evacuees gathered in the parking lot with their pets, which were banned from the stadium.

* 13 people had been treated at a major San Diego burn center. One person was killed on Sunday by a fire near the Mexican border.  7 others hurt outside San Diego.

*Stevenson Ranch, a suburb of Santa Clarita is now also in danger of fire.  This fire is on teh other side of the 5 Freeway and if wind driven will reach Simi Valley by morning.  This happened in October 2003.  meanwhile on the East side of the 5 freeway all mandatory evacuations have been lifted as of 2:15PM.  Roads remained blocked to all except, residents who must present identification.  Most major avenues in Santa Clarita are restricted to residents only.

*Mexican cities of Tijuana, Rosarito, and Tecate are suffering from smoke filled air and falling ash.  The cities are virtualy paralyzed as residents stay indoors.  Major border crossing closed due to fires. 

*President Bush has authorized all aid requested by California Governor Schwarzenegger, after the Governor made the formal request to the White House and Congress this morning from San Diego. The Governor said 1,500 National Guard troops will be called in, including 200 freed from border duty to help law enforcement with evacuations and crowd control. He said military aircraft also will help fight the fire.

*More than 300,000 customers had been affected by power outages caused by the fires, with thousands of them remaining without electricity as of mid-day, according to the region's major utility Southern California Edison.  

*Authorities making "reverse 911 calls" to alert public of danger and need to evacuate.  Public response poor, according to fire chiefs, causing delays and inefficient use of resources. 

*Numerous auto and truck accidents are being reported as people flee fires and get caught in gale force winds.  Truck trailers are blown over as are campers and auto trailers: http://www.citizen.co.za/index/Article.aspx?pDesc=1,1,22&Type=top&File=071022195323.pm6u5j5z.xml 

*San Diego Wild Animal Park evacuated all animals to safety, as fire rages. A 1,049-inmate jail in Orange County was evacuated because of heavy smoke. The prisoners were taken by bus to other lockups.

*State of Emergency Declared for Santa Clarita City: http://www.santa-clarita.com/ 

20 percent contained. Approximately 15,000 people and 5,500 homes evacuated. Twenty-five structures and two bridges destroyed. Four people injured.  Nine hundred homes without power. Highway 126 closed, mandatory evacuations in place, see map: http://www.santa-clarita.com/news/fire-maps.asp

*Hundreds of patients are being evacuated from Pomerado Hospital, in Poway, by ambulances and school buses.  Elderly residents in Poway nursing homes are also being evacuated. 

*250,000 residents in San Diego county have been evacuated.  "We have more houses burning than we have people and engine companies to fight them," said San Diego Fire Captain Lisa Blake. "A lot of people are going to lose their homes today."  Communities such as Rancho Sante Fe, Carmel Highlands, Rancho Bernardo, Del Mar Heights, Fairbanks Ranch, Rancho Penasquitos and Ramona, all on the outskirts of San Diego, were ordered to evacuate, while thousands more were ordered to leave their homes around Malibu in Los Angeles County.

The fires are continuing to spews smoke and ash into the air across southern California.  At 2pm yesterday one could no longer see the sun and the sky remained a burnt orange for the rest of the afternoon.  This morning there was a thin layer of ash on cars and in fountains.  The wind has maintained its direction and strength without significant changes.  It is a dry hot wind that hurts the eyes and makes breathing difficult.  Air quality warnings have been issued: http://www.aqmd.gov/telemweb/AreaStatus.aspx?sub=1&a=19&aVar=owcn&aName=2

Fires have now also been reported to the north of us in Santa Clarita, Castaic, Agua Dulce and Canyon Country.  Evacuations are taking place in all three areas, and local high school serve as evacuation sites.  These fires have hurt four people including a firefighter who was taken to hospital last night.  About 25 homes and structures have burned down, including a bridge.  Most schools have canceled all classes today in Santa Clarita city.  Four hundred firefighters are currently fighting the blazes and 300 more are expected to arrive today. According to officials these fires are 10% contained and will take 3-4 days to extinguish.

This morning on the way to work I saw three out of county fire trucks moving toward Malibu.  One truck was from Klamath County, in Northern California. "This fire is zero percent contained, which means we're at the mercy of the wind," said acting Malibu Mayor Pamela Conley Ulich.

Pepperdine University students have been evacuated.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared the emergency in seven of the state's southern counties as firefighters battled the blazes

In late October and early November of 2003, 15 fires in many of the same areas killed 22 people and destroyed 3,640 homes. Ten years earlier, in October and November of 1993, 26 fires in those areas killed four people and damaged or destroyed 1,200 structures.  "We believe this is worse than 2003," said San Diego Fire Rescue spokesman Maurice Luque. "The winds have been just incessant, continuous. The focal point is constantly changing, which makes them extremely difficult to tackle."

Malibu Fire Celebrities affected:

Lilly Lawrence, home destroyed - Castle Kashan

Jeffrey Katzenberg, home damaged by fire and water: used private firefighters to douse home with fire-retardant 

Sean Penn and Robin-Wright Penn, land and home trailers burned

Suzanne Somers, home damaged by fire and water

David Duchovny and Téa Leoni, home damaged by fire and water

Tanya Tucker, home damaged by fire and water

Courteney Cox and David Arquette, home damaged by fire and water

Jennifer Aniston, home damaged by fire and water

Peter and Harry Morton, home damaged by fire and water

James Cameron, evacuated, home in danger

Olivia Newton-John, evacuated, home in danger

Cindy Crawford, evacuated, home in danger

Famed party site, the LG House Malibu, has caught fire

Drug Rehab to the stars, Promises Treatment Center, has been evacuated

SUNDAY: The fire is spreading toward Malibu proper from the canyons filled with dry brush.  A landmark castle, a Presbyterian Church, an animal shelter, one home, and a number of out structures have been burned.  Students at Pepperdine University who live on campus, have been evacuated to the cafeteria, where it is believed they are safest.
More: http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_294103528.html
I live about 15 minutes from Malibu and can tell you that the winds have been very strong all night and through this morning.  Many small trees have been knocked down and small to medium items like trash cans and palm husks have been scatter across streets.
The wind gusts are estimated at 20-50 miles by media, but from personal experience, I can report the gusts are up to 7- miles in the canyons susceptible to the Santa Ana winds. Below is a link to a description of the Santa Ana wind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_ana_wind