Witch, Harris, Rice, Poomacha fires - 23rd October, Part 3
Other SD Firestorm 2007 updates
Updates are sorted in reverse chronological order.
Latest updates can be found in the 24th October - Part 1 post, though updates probably won't be as frequent today.
10:48p: News has really slowed down again, so this is as good a time as any to sleep for a bit. I'm planning on waking up again in a couple of hours to get updates, but if I still can't find any news, I won't post again till morning. In the meantime, the KPBS Twitter feed should still be updating as news becomes available, as should the Union-Tribune fire blog.
10:09p: No power in Julian; at least one sheriff deputy there right now. Julian seems to be empty.
9:56p: Julian residents were ordered to leave at 9:30p, per the UT fireblog. Evacuations in effect until at least Thursday, due to shifting wind.
9:41p: Firefighters are backburning in Jamul right now, to try and keep the fire from spreading further along the 94.
9:20p: On the Twitter update front: nateritter is taking the rest of night off. He recommends checking out viss, numist, and hannabanana, though I probably won't be checking them as much; so far they haven't been updating as frequently.
9:15p: Tap water pressure in Ramona should be restored around 1:00a. As stated earlier, although the city should be evacuated, any residents who remain (idiotically, IMHO) should boil their tap water until further notices.
9:10p: Humidity actually in double digits throughout the county. They're still low, but they're higher than they were earlier in the firestorm, so that's slightly encouraging.
Also, I missed this before: Harris fire is/was creeping westward above Campo Rd, near Steele Canyon High. The evacuees at the school are not being moved at this time, as it looks like they should be safe. (Buildings are entirely of brick and concrete, IIRC.)
9:09p: The fires on Camp Pendleton have been contained.
9:07p: Fighting the Harris Fire has cost $2,100,000. Haven't seen costs of other fires yet, but wow.
8:46p: The Rock Church can shelter up to 1500 people total; currently only have 15 or so families there.
8:33p: Winds will begin to slowly diminish tonight through tomorrow. Very dry conditions will continue. Slow cooling will being Thursday.
8:11p: Harris fire moving north and east.
7:54p: Harris Fire is 10% contained, full containment is expected October 31st.
Witch Fire is actually at 196,420 acres; it's predicted to move west and southwest, though it's also moving toward the east. Julian residents are still being warned about a potential evacuation.
Full containment of the Rice Fire is expected on October 28th, full control expected November 5th.
7:41p: Witch Fire at 196,000 acres. 1500 firefighters assigned. I missed the numbers for the Harris fire, but I THINK they say 1200 firefighters are battling that fire... please correct me if I'm wrong, though.
Tijuana Valley Equestrian Association is helping to place horses. Evacuees with horses can contact 619-920-1282.
There's a Google map of destroyed RB homes. (Link from nateritter's Twitter.)
7:34p: Rice Fire at 10% containment, per the Union-Tribune.
7:26p: Screencaps of the SD County Emergency maps have been posted to Flickr. See all of San Diego county, Witch Fire, Rice Fire, Poomacha Fire, and Harris Fire.
7:12p: Per KPBS's Twitter, the exact number of gas outages is 31. This affects 1600 people in 5 communities.
No loss of life or structural damage has been reported in Chula Vista.
Loss of homes in Dulzura and Del Dios. Missed the numbers, sadly, will post them when I see them.
7:10p: The Witch and Poomacha fires are only about a mile or so apart at this point, hence the suspected merging.
7:03p: Julian is experiencing a telephone service interruptions, which means the reverse 911 system isn't so effective... emergency alert system activated. If these residents do have to evacuate (likely), they'll be sent east.
Gas outages throughout the county... missed the exact number, though.
6:50p: I always forget how much of a zoo Trader Joe's is, hence why my grocery run took longer than I'd planned. Anyway. News within the past hour:
Poomacha and Witch fires are expected to merge tomorrow. Holy crap.
Mandatory evacuations: Cuyamaca, just north of State Route 79; Eagle Peak in the Engineers Road area.
Del Mar evacuation notices have been lifted, residents are free to return to their homes. Encinitas evacuation order have also been lifted.
New SD County Emergency fire map as of 6:00p. Will mirror this as well in my SD Firestorm Flickr set - direct links to be posted soon.
Apparently Granite Hills High School in El Cajon is NOT a shelter site or donation drop off point.
Updates are sorted in reverse chronological order.
Latest updates can be found in the 24th October - Part 1 post, though updates probably won't be as frequent today.
10:48p: News has really slowed down again, so this is as good a time as any to sleep for a bit. I'm planning on waking up again in a couple of hours to get updates, but if I still can't find any news, I won't post again till morning. In the meantime, the KPBS Twitter feed should still be updating as news becomes available, as should the Union-Tribune fire blog.
10:09p: No power in Julian; at least one sheriff deputy there right now. Julian seems to be empty.
9:56p: Julian residents were ordered to leave at 9:30p, per the UT fireblog. Evacuations in effect until at least Thursday, due to shifting wind.
9:41p: Firefighters are backburning in Jamul right now, to try and keep the fire from spreading further along the 94.
9:20p: On the Twitter update front: nateritter is taking the rest of night off. He recommends checking out viss, numist, and hannabanana, though I probably won't be checking them as much; so far they haven't been updating as frequently.
9:15p: Tap water pressure in Ramona should be restored around 1:00a. As stated earlier, although the city should be evacuated, any residents who remain (idiotically, IMHO) should boil their tap water until further notices.
9:10p: Humidity actually in double digits throughout the county. They're still low, but they're higher than they were earlier in the firestorm, so that's slightly encouraging.
Also, I missed this before: Harris fire is/was creeping westward above Campo Rd, near Steele Canyon High. The evacuees at the school are not being moved at this time, as it looks like they should be safe. (Buildings are entirely of brick and concrete, IIRC.)
9:09p: The fires on Camp Pendleton have been contained.
9:07p: Fighting the Harris Fire has cost $2,100,000. Haven't seen costs of other fires yet, but wow.
8:46p: The Rock Church can shelter up to 1500 people total; currently only have 15 or so families there.
8:33p: Winds will begin to slowly diminish tonight through tomorrow. Very dry conditions will continue. Slow cooling will being Thursday.
8:11p: Harris fire moving north and east.
7:54p: Harris Fire is 10% contained, full containment is expected October 31st.
Witch Fire is actually at 196,420 acres; it's predicted to move west and southwest, though it's also moving toward the east. Julian residents are still being warned about a potential evacuation.
Full containment of the Rice Fire is expected on October 28th, full control expected November 5th.
7:41p: Witch Fire at 196,000 acres. 1500 firefighters assigned. I missed the numbers for the Harris fire, but I THINK they say 1200 firefighters are battling that fire... please correct me if I'm wrong, though.
Tijuana Valley Equestrian Association is helping to place horses. Evacuees with horses can contact 619-920-1282.
There's a Google map of destroyed RB homes. (Link from nateritter's Twitter.)
7:34p: Rice Fire at 10% containment, per the Union-Tribune.
7:26p: Screencaps of the SD County Emergency maps have been posted to Flickr. See all of San Diego county, Witch Fire, Rice Fire, Poomacha Fire, and Harris Fire.
7:12p: Per KPBS's Twitter, the exact number of gas outages is 31. This affects 1600 people in 5 communities.
No loss of life or structural damage has been reported in Chula Vista.
Loss of homes in Dulzura and Del Dios. Missed the numbers, sadly, will post them when I see them.
7:10p: The Witch and Poomacha fires are only about a mile or so apart at this point, hence the suspected merging.
7:03p: Julian is experiencing a telephone service interruptions, which means the reverse 911 system isn't so effective... emergency alert system activated. If these residents do have to evacuate (likely), they'll be sent east.
Gas outages throughout the county... missed the exact number, though.
6:50p: I always forget how much of a zoo Trader Joe's is, hence why my grocery run took longer than I'd planned. Anyway. News within the past hour:
Poomacha and Witch fires are expected to merge tomorrow. Holy crap.
Mandatory evacuations: Cuyamaca, just north of State Route 79; Eagle Peak in the Engineers Road area.
Del Mar evacuation notices have been lifted, residents are free to return to their homes. Encinitas evacuation order have also been lifted.
New SD County Emergency fire map as of 6:00p. Will mirror this as well in my SD Firestorm Flickr set - direct links to be posted soon.
Apparently Granite Hills High School in El Cajon is NOT a shelter site or donation drop off point.