Epic Fire in San Diego County - Billion Dollar Disaster and Counting

Wednesday Update: Geraldo Rivera has finally arrived in San Diego...Flames roaring over a hill behind him.  

While Los Angeles media had been focused on the fire in Malibu, San Diego County is battling a fire of epic proportions. As of late Monday morning, more than 100,000 acres have burned. Evacuations have reached more than a half million by Tuesday afternoon.

AP Quote: “We have more houses burning than we have people and engine companies to fight them,” San Diego Fire Captain Lisa Blake said. “A lot of people are going to lose their homes today.”

Photo: A San Diego police officer runs between houses while looking for people to evacuate in the community of Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, Calif., Monday, Oct 22. 2007. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

For updates and local source: The San Diego Tribune

12:40 pm. Pacific Update: Residents of Solana Beach (32 miles from core of what they are calling the Witch Fire) are told to prepare for evacuation.

Northern-most city in San Diego County under evacuation; Valley Center in the east, and Solana Beach in the west.

2:15 pm PST Update: Scripps Ranch added to mandatory evacuations, following Fallbrook in the north and Valley Center in the east. Solana Beach residents are advised to be prepared to evacuate.

Note: Just heard a video commentary. The San Diego County fire (one of 7 from last reports) that required the most evacuation started in Witch Creek, hence The Witch Fire.

CORRECTION: The fire that caused the massive evacuation in SD County is currently known as The Witch Creek Fire...not The Witch Fire.

6:32 pm Monday PST Update:

Del Mar: Advisory evacuations listed

Advisory evacuations have been ordered for the following neighborhoods of Del Mar:

East Side of Crest Road, Oribia Road, San Dieguito Road, Avenida Primavera and Serpentine Drive.

Residents in all other neighborhoods within Del Mar are encouraged to prepare to evacuate to Qualcomm.

Residents should call 2-1-1 for all non-emergency calls related to this fire.

Due to large call volume, residents are also urged to find fire information online at www.211SanDiego.org Callers may experience a wait time up to five minutes. Please be patient as 2-1-1 is receiving heavy call volume.

Residents may also call the City of San Diego Community Access Phone at 619-570-1070 for additional fire information.

Evening Update: A conservative estimate as to how many homes were lost to fire in Poway, San Diego, is 70, according to city's PIO.
 
Update Tuesday 10:30 am PDT: The Witch Creek Fire Still Burning Leaves a Grim Toll
 
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Online giving information for the Southern California fires can be found at Network for Good:  http://networkforgood.blogspot.com/2007/10/southern-california-fires.html

Help San Diego Blog: 

I’m sure there are more help fire victims blogs, but one that has got to be central to San Diego is the San Diego Union-Tribunes blog, http://helpsandiego.blogspot.com/. You’ll find some really good interaction between those needing help and those looking to help others…real specific as well.