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Evacuations Urged for San Diego County Neighborhoods

Multiple fires in San Diego County prompted authorities to evacuate certain neighborhoods on Oct. 22.

KFMB radio reported 60 homes in the San Diego suburb of Rancho Bernardo had burned.

As of 10:30 a.m., county authorities had called for mandatory evacuations of Rancho Santa Fe as well as the Olivenhain Dam area. Mandatory evacuations were also ordered for Lakeside at 13100 Willow Road.

Published reports said 250,000 people had been called to evacuate. Pomerado Hospital and a nearby nursing home were being evacuated, according to published reports.

The fire in suburban San Diego came on the heels of the Coronado Hills Fire, Mission Fire, Witch Fire and Harris Fire.

County officials advised residents to call 2-1-1 for nonemergency calls related to the fire.

Authorities were closing portions of Interstate 15.

San Diego Gas & Electric reported power outages in a number of communities, and called on residents to conserve electricity.

San Diego Superior Court will be closed Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 22 and 23, according to the court Web site.

The port of San Diego called on nonessential employees to stay home.

UC San Diego Extension canceled Oct. 22 classes.

Although many of these fires are spots from north of LA to the Mexican border and from the desert to the coast it is the worst in the San Diego County area. The San Diego Zoo has been closed, The San Diego Wild Animal Park with all of it's animals are endangered. The edge of the San Diego city area is now endangered. With the Sanata Anna winds being so strong right now many of these fires are hitting through the area like tornadoes. There are many thousands of homes that have been destroyed so far and the death toll is not currently known.

San Diego County wildfires prompt evacuations

Santa Ana winds-stoked wildfires in San Diego County on Monday prompted evacuations of thousands of residents.

Sailors and Marines awoke to smoky skies and mandatory evacuations in some areas threatened by several growing wildfires as windy conditions and single-digit humidity levels threatened some suburban neighborhoods and closed some key interstate highways.

At least two off-base military family housing areas affected by the wildfires — in Ramona and Eucalyptus Ridge — have been evacuated by mid-morning, according to Capt. Matt S. Brown, a Navy Region West spokesman.

“We are working on establishing a tent city at North Island and also an evacuation center at Naval Base San Diego and North Island,” Brown said. “We have set up call centers at each of the [bachelor enlisted quarters] and Navy lodges ... so they are standing by for calls.”

Brown noted that some work schedules at Navy bases have been curtailed. “It’s key and essential personnel right now,” he said, adding that “no major operations scheduled, and actually most of our ships are in port right now.”

One of the wildfires, called the Witch fire, jumped west across Interstate 15, the key central north-south highway, near the northern San Diego suburb of Rancho Bernardo, which prompted mandatory evacuations across a broad region toward the coast. Officials were evacuating Palomar-Pomerado Hospital in the area.

Firefighting crews were battling blazes in several areas, including two in Fallbrook, Calif., a town southeast of Camp Pendleton near Oceanside.

The fires and high winds have interrupted utilities, including cellular phone service, and caused electrical power outages in several areas around the county. Concerns about the fires and smoke prompted authorities to close many schools around the county, and several high schools were opening as evacuation centers.

Navy medical officials at San Diego Naval Medical Center on Monday canceled elective procedures and surgeries, said spokeswoman Sonia Hanson said Monday. The medical center, known as Balboa Hospital, and local clinics remain open, although “selected services may be limited due to staff evacuations,” Hanson said. Departments were mustering their personnel and families. “Safety is our foremost concern,” she said.

I just got home from work and found that the fires had traveled south, and then I read your post.  Please pray for my son and his wife who are stationed in San Diego.  My son is in the Navy.  Pray for their safety please.  And then for strength and courage as I'm sure they are busy helping out.  My son is a strong Christan.

My prayers are with all that are in this area. I will be saying an extra prayer for your family. Do they live in the vicinity of these fires or are they closer to the bay?

They are in Alpine, CA.  I'm not even sure where that is.

I am pretty familiar with the area. I was stationed in the area for 8 years. That's on I-8 just east of San Diego. Currently there is a fire that is just north of there and another one that is south of Alpine. Both fires are still quite a distance from Alpine and are headed west away from there. The freeway is open from there to the Naval bases where they are evacuating Military personnel to.

OH!  Thank you Pastor Roger!  I did finally locate it on a map but had no idea where the fires were in relationship.  Well I feel a bit better then.  Thank you so much!  :-*

You're most welcome.

Orange and San Diego counties call for more evacuations overnight


Wind-whipped firestorms destroyed more than 700 homes and businesses in Southern California on Monday, the second day of its onslaught, and more than half a million people in San Diego County were told to evacuate their homes.

The gale-force winds turned hillside canyons into giant blowtorches from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border. Although the worst damage was around San Diego and Lake Arrowhead, dangerous fires also threatened Malibu, parts of Orange and Ventura counties, and the Agua Dulce area near Santa Clarita. New evacuations came overnight in Orange and San Diego counties, as the menacing winds refused to abate.

Late Monday night, new blazes threatened homes near Stevenson Ranch and in Soledad Canyon in northern Los Angeles County. The Soledad Canyon fire burned multiple mobile homes and evacuations were underway, fire officials said.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, calling it "a tragic time for California," declared a state of emergency in seven counties and redeployed California National Guard members from the border to support firefighters. President George W. Bush today declared an emergency, which authorizes federal agencies to coordinate relief.

Schwarzenegger stressed how much California officials have learned since the devastating wildfires of October 2003, which raged over much of the same terrain. But as the day wore on, it became clear that any hard-earned knowledge was no match for natural forces overrunning the ability of firefighters to control them.

"The issue this time is not preparedness," said San Diego City Council President Scott Peters. "It's that the event is so overwhelming."

Pat Helsing, 59, evacuated her home in the Scripps Ranch area, much as she had done four years ago.

"It seems scarier this time," she said. "The fire is everywhere in San Diego now. You don't know where you can go to escape it."

By late Monday, Southern California fires had burned 269,000 acres -- about 420 square miles -- and destroyed at least 892 buildings. Remarkably, only one person was known to have died, although it was possible that more fatalities would be discovered. At least 37 people had been injured, including 17 firefighters.

Many schools, including those in Malibu, were closed today.

On Monday, near Malibu, where fire Sunday had burned into the center of town, the focus was in the hills, where firefighters on the ground and in the air were trying to prevent flames from marching across Las Flores Canyon and into Topanga Canyon.

"It's trying to move toward Topanga Canyon, parallel to the coastline," said Manhattan Beach Battalion Chief Frank Chiella, near the Rambla Pacifico area. Firefighters were attempting to stay ahead of the fire and funnel it toward the ocean.

"If you let it get wide, that's a lot more homes it could take out," Chiella said. "We're doing what we can to keep it from getting bigger; we've only lost one home today."

Two fires on opposite sides of Lake Arrowhead had burned about 2,000 acres by Monday evening, destroying 138 buildings and prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents from mountain resort communities.

In northern Los Angeles County, the Buckweed fire had swept through 35,000 acres by Monday evening, destroying 20 homes and two bridges, and causing the evacuation of about 15,000 people. It was burning toward Magic Mountain, but was partially contained.

In Orange County, where a suspected arson fire stretched the resources of local crews, residents along Calle Cabrillo in Foothill Ranch were packing cars and preparing to evacuate.

"We've been through this before," Karen Royer said. "I believe in God, and I know everything will be good."

Minutes later, a plume of dark smoke lifted over a ridgeline.

"Can I revise that?" she said. "Now I'm scared."

The Orange County blaze, called the Santiago fire, was leaping relentlessly in a southeasterly direction, burning ominously close to the Foothill Ranch and Portola Hill communities. About 500 firefighters and two water-carrying helicopters stood between the fire and hundreds of homes, Battalion Chief Kris Concepcion said.

Southern California Ablaze, Hundreds of Thousands Evacuated

A dozen wildfires raging out of control from Los Angeles to Mexico have devoured homes and business and have turned hundreds of thousands of residents into evacuees.

The San Diego area is ringed with fires fanned by Santa Ana winds gusting to 60 miles per hour.

The National Weather Service says the fire-prone weather will get worse before it gets better. A "red flag warning" is in effect for all of extreme southwestern California through Wednesday afternoon for gusty northeast to east winds and low humidity.

An upper level high pressure system located off the Northern California Coast combined with surface high pressure over the Great Basin will continue to bring hot, dry and strong Santa Ana conditions with explosive fire growth potential to the coast through Tuesday, the National Weather Service says.

Winds are forecast to slowly diminish Tuesday night and a slow cooling will begin Thursday with cooling expected on the weekend.

The Harris Fire, which began around 9:30 am Sunday east of Harris Ranch Road and north of state Route 94, has now charred over 20,000 acres.

San Diego County emergency officials say, "Mapping and accuracy of acres is difficult due to rapid rate of fire spread. There is 0% containment and the fire’s spread is moving westerly towards Otay Lake. Firefighters are focusing all efforts on protection of life, property, and firefighter safety."

San Diego Gas and Electric's Southwest major transmission line remains shut down. SDG&E says the line, known as the Southwest Powerlink, was taken out of service on Sunday afternoon for safety reasons, because the fire was threatening the line. "We currently are cleaning the transmission line of contaminants from the fire, and we expect it to be back in service tomorrow morning," the utility said

At this time there are 30,000 customers affected by 71 power outages due to the fire in locations scattered throughout the county.

"With the unpredictable nature of the fire, we do not have an estimate of time of restoration, the utility said. "We ask the public for their patience and cooperation with outages, some of which are necessary to ensure the safety of fire personnel. We will be out there as long as the fires continue to burn."

All available SDG&E crews are in the field, working closely with fire personnel to ensure the safety of the public and of firefighters. The company says it has called for assistance from several other utilities in the Western region.

Fire officials say all airtankers and helicopters are currently flying, including a DC-10 supertanker from CAL FIRE.

Citizens along the fire's edge are requested to stay away from any area that has helicopters or airtankers dropping retardant or water. The aircraft are trying to protect structures and have to be very cautious when people are on the ground nearby.

"Damage Assessment Teams have been ordered. We should get better numbers on number of homes damaged or destroyed once they are deployed," said the San Diego County Emergency Management Office.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger last night proclaimed a state of emergency in seven counties. The proclamation will release state funds to ensure that adequate financial resources are available to rapidly attack the fires and reimburse critical emergency response costs, the governor said.

Late last night, fire officials evacuated the entire town of Ramona, a community of 36,000 located about 35 miles northeast of San Diego as flames raced across the Witch Creek Area east of Ramona.

Area roads were jammed as Ramona residents fled the Witch fire as it shot flames more than 100 feet into the air and crackled across 12,000 acres.

An evacuation order came later for San Pasqual Valley between Ramona and parts of Escondido to the northwest. Communities north and south of Ramona were evacuated earlier.

The fire is spreading to the west and south. The fire has crossed I-15 at Lake Hodges heading southwest to the communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch, Mira Mesa, and 4-S Ranch and south toward Peutz Valley, Harbison Canyon, and the western part of Alpine.

San Diego County officials say 50 homes have been destroyed in the Poway to the southwest of Ramona, 70 homes have been destroyed in Escondido, six homes have been burned in Rancho Santa Fe, and an unknown number of structures destroyed in Rancho Bernardo.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Poway from Rattlesnake Creek to the south, Midland Road to the west, the San Diego Aqueduct to the east, and Lake Poway Road to the north.

Evacuation points are being established at Mount Carmel High School at 9550 Carmel Mountain Road and Poway Community Park at 13094 Civic Center Drive.

Fire officials say the head of the fire is burning in the same path as the Cedar Fire in 2003.

Evacuations have been ordered for San Diego's Scripps Ranch area, which was badly damaged by the 2003 fire.

Evacuees leaving Escondido can travel to the west to take shelter at Mission Hills Church at 400 Mission Hills Court in San Marcos. Evacuees are advised that all major westbound city streets are open west of I-15 at this point.

But evacuees are advised that I-15 is closed northbound and southbound from Highway 78 to Highway 56.

Evacuation centers have been set up for military and Department of Defense personnel on Naval Base San Diego at the Admiral Prout Field House, as well as Naval Base Coronado. Families with pets are encouraged to report to the Admiral Prout Field House. The Murphy Canyon Chapel is operating as a family information center. The chapel can be reached at 619-556-0603. Military families can call 619-556-9399 for more information.

CAL FIRE reports that the Rice Fire in Rice Canyon, North San Diego County has crossed I-15 and Hwy 395. Numerous structures have been destroyed in Fallbrook and the entire town of Fallbrook is now being evacuated.

cont'd

The Rice fire is currently estimated at 300 acres and is 0% contained. High winds blowing harder than 40 miles per hour are hampering suppression efforts. The Rice fire started at 4:15 this morning and the cause is under investigation.

South of San Diego, the city of Chula Vista has requested residents who live in the following areas to voluntarily evacuate - Rolling Hills, San Miguel, East Lake Woods, Bella Lago. This is precautionary and is suggested due to unpredictable fire predictions.

Evacuations are beginning in a large area of Valley Center, near the Bear Valley area. Valley Center High School is the evacuation center. Residents in Valley Center should play close attention to news reports because of the serious fire threats.\

Fires are still breaking out in the San Diego area. The Coronado Hills Fire south of Cal State San Marcos started today has burned 300 acres. Structures were lost in Discovery Hills and San Marcos, but firefighters now have this fire 100 percent contained.

The County Board of Education has ordered all San Diego County public schools to be closed on Tuesday.

All classes at the University of San Diego are cancelled through Tuesday due to extremely poor air quality caused by regional wildfires, which are still uncontained. Classes are canceled for Tuesday, and non-essential employees are encouraged to stay home. At this point, no evacuation is necessary.

University administrators say they will continue to monitor this changing situation and, should the need arise, be prepared to evacuate the campus to ensure the health and safety of resident students.

The university is developing a list of names and contact information of current students, families of current students and alumni able to provide temporary housing for students and other members of the campus community who have been displaced or in the event of a campus evacuation. If you can provide such space, please e-mail news@sandiego.edu with your name, contact information and space availability.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors’ regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday is cancelled. Agenda items will be carried over to the next scheduled meeting on Wednesday, October 24.

All residents who wish to volunteer their time are advised to call Volunteer San Diego at (858) 636-4131 or sign up to volunteer online at www.VolunteerSanDiego.org.

All residents who wish to donate emergency supplies and personal necessities are advised to call Goodwill Industries at (888) 446-6394 to find their local Goodwill drop-off site.

Farther north in Los Angeles County the Buckweed Fire in the Mint Canyon Road area at Sierra Highway has burned 35,500 acres and is uncontained. The fire started Saturday and is burning toward Magic Mountain. Mandatory evacuation for 15,000 residents remains in effect.

The communities of Santa Clarita, Leona Valley, Green Valley, Acton, Agua Dulce, Mint Canyon are threatened.

Fifteen homes have been destroyed and three homes have been damaged. Three civilians and one firefighter have been injured. At least 925 firefighters are battling the blaze.

More fires are breaking out across the area. The Magic Fire at Old Cross Road and Magic Mountain Parkway in Los Angeles County started at 2:15 this afternoon and has already burned across 500 acres, threatening multiple structures.

National forests are not immune to the fires sweeping the area. The Ranch Fire in the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County has burned 41,000 acres since October 20 and is 10 percent contained.

As a result of extreme fire activity, and to protect public health and safety, Angeles National Forest officials are implementing a forest closure, effective Tuesday. The closure will last until the extreme conditions subside.

While the closure is in effect, going into or being upon National Forest System lands, roads, or trails within the Angeles National Forest is not allowed.

Individuals or organizations holding special use permits for sanctioned activities within the Forest are exempt from this order.

Evacuations continue in Chiquito Canyon, Hasley Canyon, Val Verde, Hopper Canyon and toward Filmore. Three homes and four outbuildings have been destroyed, and 500 residences, 50 commercial properties and 50 outbuildings are threatened. There are 767 firefighters assigned to this incident.

In upscale Malibu Canyon, populated by celebrities and entertainers, the Canyon Fire has burned 3,800 acres and is just eight percent contained. This fire started Saturday and is burning in Malibu Canyon south of Pacific Coast Highway where 500 homes have been evacuated. Three injuries have been reported.

Hundreds of Malibu residences and commercial buildings are threatened, while 1,750 firefighters work to contain the flames.

Both mandatory and voluntary evacuations are in effect for various parts of the Malibu area. Call the Canyon Fire Information Line at 323-881-2411 to find out more.

In Orange County, the Santiago Fire has burned 15,200 acres in the area of Santiago Canyon Road at Silverado Canyon Road in Irvine and is now 30 percent contained.

Two thousand residences in Foothill Ranch are threatened, two damaged, and one destroyed and several area roads are closed. One injury has been reported.

Bush declares emergency over wildfires


President George Bush today declared a state of emergency, paving the way for federal aid to help fight an epidemic of wildfires that have struck Southern California.

The declaration follows a Monday request by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for federal assistance. Officials are battling fires in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

 The president's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, to coordinate all disaster relief efforts. Emergency measures, including direct assistance, will be provided at 75% federal funding, the White House announced this morning.

I willl continue to pray for those in California. We have to give thought on these fires.. Are they punishment from God for the continued un-Godly activity in that state? I feel it is a punishment. God has been VERY patient with the sins of man. With the recent laws giving the abomination homosexuality more "freedom" per se we have turned further away from God and his un-ending love. We used to be able to go a few days at least and be free of hearing anything about removing God from our nation and lives. Now it is a daily activity. Satan is working harder than ever to win souls and he is doing a good job. Do we just give up? No.. We have to fight harder now than we ever had. The time is near for our Saviour to return and give Christians the reward of eternal life and sinners eternal punishment. So lets not only pray for people's safety from the fires they face now but pray they will be saved and safe from the fire they will soon face if they do not find Christ...

The part about this being a punishment had crossed my mind. This was said of New Orleans being hit by Katrina also. Yet we see a city that has displayed much worse than that in San Diego county that has gone virtually untouched. Yes, their time is coming in the Lord's time if they do not change their ways before then. When that time comes for God's judgment to be doled out this incident as devastating as it may be will seem as nothing.

There are many in the San Diego area that are against the things that the politicians of that state have been doing. Good Christian people that are fighting against the corrupt actions of the government of that state, government that insists on going against the wishes of the people.

Yes, we should be praying for the souls of the lost but not just in Calif but all over the world.

"Punishment" hasn't really crossed my mind in this instance.  It did with New Orleans of course.  But I would be more likely to think "punishment" if Hollywood and San Francisco were hit.
On the news last night the firemen said that arson was suspect.  Now this could be interesting.  If it was just in one spot, one could suspect children.  If it was in a couple spots, maybe one or two pyros at work.  But in this many separate spots?  Well that makes for interesting speculation doesn't it?

I hadn't heard about arson being suspected but yes, it does lead to some interesting speculation and I have been having thoughts along those lines already.

Another email from my son....

Hi Mom,
Today is about the same. The fires are still in the same areas. The funny thing is that the fire is moving really close to where we used to live. We just moved out here to Alpine about a month ago. Looks like God was watching out for us there. The t.v. has nothing but coverage of the fires. It's all everyone is talking about. I'll enclose a couple of pictures. But anyway, don't worry about us. We are okay and we'll keep you posted if anything changes. I love you and I'll talk to you soon.  

That's great news, sister and a great comfort.

Officials have listed only one of the fires as arson so far. Two of them have been blamed on sparks from power lines that were downed by the Santa Anna winds. The rest are still listed as under investigation.

We are not the only ones though that are speculating on this. The following information comes from the forum on the San Diego Union website:


The poster was quickly savaged with typical PC logic and accused of being paranoid or worse despite the fact he just mentioned it as a possibility.

So I ran a search over at Jihad Watch and came up with this.


Arson is certainly used in terrorism, just ask any Parisian who owns a car.


There have also been many cases of fires started by illegal aliens and the homeless that may be "camping out". With the drought in southern Calif and the dry, strong Santa Anna (Devil winds) almost anything could be possible.

Of course, you're right, anything is possible and I certainly don't want to jump to conclusions, but I have to agree with the bit about "Why haven't we heard more on what the cause is yet" 
And also that's a pretty wide range and to coincidental for me, for that many homeless fires.
I feel bad about that one guy getting jumped on for stating the obvious, that it could be terrorists when we all know that someone left the back door open and they are living among us.

That is unfortunate but it is expected. After all many of the liberals say "there is no terrorist threat". I agree that it seems to be too many fires to say they all were caused by "natural" causes. There have been 4 of the fires that are 100% contained but there are also a total of 18 fires now.

AMEN!!!!

Hello Grammyluv,

My son was also stationed at San Diego for several years when he was in the Navy. They did have fires one year, but nothing in comparison to this year. YES - your son and many others in California are in my prayers.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Brothers and Sisters,

We might not ever know about the cause of all of these fires. They've already listed arson as being suspected on several of the fires. I did think about the possibility of terrorists. We have many areas of vulnerability that would be this bad or worse. I won't mention the ones I think could be nightmares. I'll simply say that some of our enemies don't have a conscience at all, so being diabolical to the extreme wouldn't bother them at all.

Some of these fires could also be completely natural. 50 to 80 mph dry winds mixed with the modern services of mankind are many times not a safe mix. Electrical power supplies would only be one example. I did also think about the possibility of this being another SIGN of the end days of this Age of Grace. Only GOD knows. Regardless, Christians should be praying.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Amen.

'We can't stop it'
'Officials all but concede defeat to wildfires as estimated 1 million evacuate'

Faced with unrelenting winds whipping wildfires into a frenzy across Southern California, firefighters conceded defeat on many fronts Tuesday to an unstoppable force that has chased an estimated 1 million people away.

Unless the shrieking Santa Ana winds subside, and that’s not expected for at least another day, fire crews say they can do little more than try to wait it out and react — tamping out spot fires and chasing ribbons of airborne embers to keep new fires from flaring.

“If it’s this big and blowing with as much wind as it’s got, it’ll go all the way to the ocean before it stops,” said San Diego Fire Capt. Kirk Humphries. “We can save some stuff but we can’t stop it.”
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Tentacles of unpredictable, shifting flame have burned across nearly 600 square miles — an area larger than New York City — killing one person, destroying more than 1,300 homes and prompting the biggest evacuation in California history, from north of Los Angeles through San Diego to the Mexican border.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the flames were threatening 68,000 more homes.

“We have had an unfortunate situation that we’ve had three things come together: very dry areas, very hot weather and then a lot of wind,” Schwarzenegger said. “And so this makes the perfect storm for a fire.”

In Rancho Santa Fe, a suburb north of San Diego, houses burned just yards from where fire crews fought to contain flames engulfing other properties. In the mountain community of Lake Arrowhead, cabins and vacation homes went up in flames with no fire crews in sight.

“These winds are so strong, we’re not trying to fight this fire,” said firefighter Jim Gelrud, an engineer from Vista, Calif. “We’re just trying to save the buildings.”

16 firefighters injured
More than a dozen wildfires blowing across Southern California since Sunday have also injured more than 40 people, including 16 firefighters. The U.S. Forest Service earlier reported a fire death in Los Angeles County’s Santa Clarita area, but officials said Tuesday that information was erroneous.

Jose Alvarez, a San Diego County public information officer, told NBC News that five people had died from the fires in San Diego County, but only one person died trying to save a home. The other four died during or after being evacuated, he said.

The fires also forced the evacuation of more than 350,000 houses, most of them in San Diego County. With the area’s average household size of 2.6 people, that means the evacuation could encompass nearly 910,000 people.

“It’s basically a mass migration here in San Diego County. The numbers we’re seeing are staggering,” said Luis Monteagudo, a spokesman for the county’s emergency effort.

President Bush, who plans to visit the region Thursday, declared a federal emergency for seven counties, a move that will speed disaster-relief efforts, White House press secretary Dana Perino said.

"The president wants to travel to California to witness firsthand what the people there are going through with these wildfires," Perino said. "He wants to ensure that the state and local governments are getting what they need from the federal government, and he wants to make sure to deliver a message in person to the victims that he has them in his thoughts and prayers."

State insurance official estimates damage
The state's insurance commissioner estimated that the fires have likely caused several hundred million dollars worth of damage to home and business properties.

"In South Lake Tahoe, where we just finished working with the victims there over the last several months, you had 254 homes destroyed at a total cost of $150 million," California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said. "Here the damage is much more widespread, more than a thousand homes destroyed so far, plus, you know, scores of businesses."

"This is just a terrible disaster; it's going to be one of the worst ever," he said, adding the total destruction would easily be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The sweeping devastation was reminiscent of blazes that tore through Southern California four years ago, killing 22 and destroying 3,640 homes.

The ferocity of the Santa Ana winds in 2003 forced crews to discard their traditional strategy and focus on keeping up with the fire and putting out spot blazes that threatened homes.

Gusts surpass 100 mph
Fire crews were especially concerned about dense eucalyptus groves in Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe, fearing the highly flammable trees could turn neighborhoods prized for their secluded serenity into tinderboxes.

The usual tactic is to surround a fire on two sides and try to choke it off. But with fires whipped by gusts that have surpassed 100 mph, that strategy doesn’t work because embers can be swept miles ahead of the fire’s front line. In those cases, crews must keep 10 to 30 feet back from the flames or risk their own lives, Los Angeles County firefighter Daryl Parish said.

Added Rocklin Fire Department Capt. Martin Holm: “We do what we can. A life’s a lot more important than a house.”

Thanks for the update Pastor Roger!

Brothers and Sisters,

I've seen small firestorms with just 30 to 40 mph winds that were awesome and very difficult to stop. It would be hard to imagine a firestorm in winds of 70 to 100 mph. I've never been a firefighter, but I know many who are. Those who are honest will tell you that a firestorm of this magnitude would scare any professional, even with all of the right equipment. The wind and the available fuel are two really bad and dangerous components. One can get within a block of a firestorm like this and begin to cook if they don't have the proper equipment.

Brothers and Sisters, please just let us all make this a matter of continued prayer.

Love In Christ,
Tom

1 Peter 1:3-5 NASB
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Fires spark suspicion of terror again 
Previous FBI memo warned of al-Qaida plot to torch areas in West

California authorities have confirmed some of the wildfires that have triggered the evacuation of about a million people and burned 1,600 structures with damages at more than $1 billion were set deliberately, and a terror watch organization says the circumstances match terror plans the FBI alerted law enforcement to several years ago.

"In 2003 an FBI memo alerted law enforcement agencies that an al-Qaida terrorist being held in detention had talked of masterminding a plot to set a series of devastating forest fires around the western United States," the National Terror Alert Response Center warned today.

"It was reported that the detainee, who was not identified, said the plan involved three or four people setting wildfires using timed devices in Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming that would detonate in forests and grasslands after the operatives had left the country," the advisory continued. "The detainee believed that significant damage to the U.S. economy would result and once it was realized that the fires were terrorist acts, U.S. citizens would put pressure on the U.S. government to change its policies."

WND reported at the time that an Arabic-language jihadi website also posted a message purporting to be "al-Qaida's plan of economic attack" on the U.S. that including proposals to turn the nation's forests into raging infernos.

Other components of the plan, according to the Northeast Intelligence Network, were proposals to attack assets of large American companies, target oil refineries and airports, deliberately pollute food supplies and attack transportation facilities.

Fire officials in Orange County said today the Santiago Canyon Fire is an arson and offered a $50,000 reward to find the arsonist.

Officials said the massive fire, which has caused an estimated $10 million in damage, had three separate points of origin. Two were on one side of the road and the third was on the other.

"Whoever did this knew what they were doing," said Kris Concepcion, a fire authority battalion chief, who noted the blazes traveled three miles in just the first 20 minutes on Sunday.

Authorities are reporting five deaths in the blazes so far.

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."

Less than two months ago, between four and five dozen people were killed and scores more hospitalized with serious injuries as a result of wildfires in portions of Greece. Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis expressed his suspicions.

"So many fires sparked simultaneously is so many places is no coincidence," he said when the blazes erupted.

And Terror Watch notes a top prosecutor in Greece now has begun investigating whether the arsons were, in fact, terrorism.

Dimitris Papangelopoulos said the investigation will determine "whether the crimes of arsonists and of arson attacks on forests" should be prosecuted under the nation's anti-terrorism law.

In the current California firestorm, authorities say they also have detained one suspect, but he wasn't identified immediately. San Bernardino County Sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Beavers reported he was detained for allegedly attempting to light a fire at a campground.

A woman driving past the campground saw a subject crouched to the ground, and then saw flames, according to Beavers. The witness called police, and the suspect was arrested at a nearby market, authorities said.

Winds weakened somewhat today, giving the 8,000 firefighters on duty hope they could made some progress against the flames that have scorched about 650 square miles from Santa Barbara to San Diego. But flames clearly remained out of control.

President Bush tried to reassure Californians, saying, "I want the people of Southern California to know that Americans all across this land care deeply about them. They can rest assured that the federal government will do everything we can to help put out these fires."

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the opening of five local assistance centers to provide help to those who are displayed by the fires.

"The devastation and loss of life from these wildfires has been horrific, but the people of California are going to rebuild and we must do all we can to help these communities recover," said Schwarzenegger.

"I extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the firefighters who courageously continue to battle these wildfires and put their lives on the line every day. You are true heroes," he said.

The local assistance centers will serve as efficient one-stop sources for disaster relief services, including information on how to replace records lost in the fires, file insurance claims and apply for assistance and housing.

Jay Alan, a spokesman for California's emergency response office, said the cause of the fires is being investigated.

WND's earlier reports documented al-Qaida threats against the forests of the U.S. and its allies – and the rash of wildfires that raged through Europe, Australia and the U.S. at the time.

Law enforcement officials also suspected several of the California wildfires in 2002 that killed 18, scorched more than 718,000 acres and destroyed more than 2,400 homes in 10 days were deliberately set – increasing speculation there is a terror connection to the blazes.

Damage estimates exceeded $2 billion then.

In blazes across Europe that year, there was evidence terrorists may have contributed. Authorities said after fires swept through the Moures mountains near the French Riviera, investigators found Molotov cocktails – gasoline bombs – at the ignition point for fires that killed at least four and destroyed 50 homes.

Australian also at that time investigated whether al-Qaida planned to spark brushfires in a new wave of terrorism.

"Australian security authorities are aware of reports that al-Qaida has considered starting brushfires in the U.S. as a form of terrorist attack," said a spokeswoman for Australian Attorney General Daryl Williams during the investigation about the same time as the warning for western U.S. states. "Arson attacks are just one of a wide range of scenarios which have been considered as part of our investigations into al-Qaida's ability to conduct attacks in Australia."

In fact, Arab terrorists in Israel have started dozens of major forest fires over the years.

As far back as 1988, Israeli police caught more than a dozen Palestinian adults in the act of setting fires, while other Arabs confessed to arson after arrest. Some fires followed specific calls by underground Arab terrorists. A leaflet issued by the Palestinian uprising's underground leadership called for "the destruction and burning of the enemy's properties, industry and agriculture."

ummmmm.

California Was Set On Fire On Purpose
At least four of the sixteen big fires that devastated the south of California were caused on purpose.

American federal agents have evidence that the fires in Orange, Riverside, San Diego and San Bernardino counties were caused on purpose.

San Bernardino city police, after a chase and shooting, killed a man who was caught in the act of starting a fire. Also a motorcyclist “equipped with arson materials”  was arrested in the county. He was caught by the police while they were patrolling the rural hills in the area of San Bernardino mountains.

The Orange County police officers helped the FBI investigators secure the area east of Irvine, where typical signs of deliberate arson were found, that is, three distinct ignition points at a short distance one from the other.

Investigation teams are in the field in search of evidence that could lead to information about the person who is responsible for starting the fire that devastated 19,200 hectares in the Santiago Canyon and caused damage of over 10 million dollars, special agent of the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) Susan Raichel said.

According to official information from the Riverside County, the fire was caused on purpose there as well.

The fires destroyed more than 1,500 houses in the last days, and the biggest damage was caused in San Diego where at least 1,200 houses burnt down, which will cost insurance companies over a billion dollars.

Who is from Arizona..... :'(

Thanks Pastor Roger.  This is the first update I've seen on this today.  I'm glad they caught at least one arsonist alive.  It will be interesting to hear his story if and when that comes out.

Who's from Arizona?  quote by Dreamweaver.

Well you already know that I spent some time down there years ago in Dateland.  What area are you in?

You're most welcome.


He was talking about the person that was killed by the police. Russell Lane Daves, the suspected arsonist, was from Topock, AZ.

::)
Oh!  Must've missed that part.  A little tired tonight.  Worked until 1PM and then went to downtown Seattle for a 2 hour interview!  It's not even 6pm, I'm sitting at the computer and watching Bill O'Rielly and already thinking about my cozy grammy bed!
Ya know I'm only 50, so I play up the "grammy" bit a little.  I do love being a grammy but I sure don't "feel" like one!  Well except tonight that is.

The White Mountains.

That must be up north?

Outside of Show Low.

I used to go fishing & camping on White river, I love Show Low...
Man, it's been about 35 yrs since i've been their...Beautiful place Brother!
DreamWeaver: I live on the Colo. river in AZ., well not on it, but it is a stones throw away.

(CNSNews.com) - Republicans in the House of Representatives on Thursday accused Democrats of using the fires burning in Southern California as a distraction so they can reintroduce a contentious children's health care bill.

Democratic leaders in the House have scheduled a vote on the bill for Thursday afternoon. The bill had already passed, but supporters were unable to override President Bush's veto of the reauthorization and $35 billion expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Republicans, however, argued that some of their members have returned to their home districts in and near Southern California, where wildfires have been raging for more than a week. They accused Democrats of trying to sneak the vote in with many members absent.

"Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat Leadership have decided once again to play politics with the SCHIP bill," John Stipicevic, floor assistant for Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said in an e-mail to Republican staffers. "This time, they are politicking while many of our Members aid constituents during this difficult time."

Stipicevic said Democrats "should be ashamed at the process of this bill and we need to make it clear to them that we will not stand for this abuse."

In a statement released Wednesday, Blunt criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for scheduling "an important, and contentious, vote on SCHIP while these members are confronting serious issues at home - disenfranchising, in effect, a large segment of the most populous state in the union, and throwing into doubt the integrity of the vote."

Of the 13 Republicans representing Southern California districts, only Mary Bono voted for the reauthorization and expansion of SCHIP in September. The 12 who voted against the bill also voted to uphold Bush's veto.

All of the 18 Democrats representing Southern California supported the SCHIP expansion bill in September and again in the October attempt to override the veto.

Republicans have further complained that Democrats didn't provide them with copies of the 293-page bill until 7:57 pm Wednesday, less than 24 hours before the scheduled vote.

Republicans will attempt a number of procedural motions throughout the day in an attempt to delay the vote, according to a Republican aide. However, it is unlikely they will be able to prevent the vote from occurring altogether.

In a statement on the House floor Thursday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Democrats won't delay the vote, because "the time left to us is very short."

"[T]o push this off to next week then pushes this off to the week following when the Senate can consider this legislation, which then pushes off to the last week we'll be here for presidential action," Hoyer said.

He called the objectives of members who returned home "understandable and appropriate" but said that "what is not appropriate is for me to be put in the position or anybody, who schedules on either side of the aisle, to be put in the position to have our legislative process stopped when we essentially only have a few hours left."

Spokesmen for Pelosi did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday. In a news conference Wednesday announcing the vote, Pelosi, who represents the Northern California city of San Francisco, did not mention the fires.

But she did call on Republicans to support the measure, which she argued is "supported by a bipartisan coalition, Democrats and Republicans across the country."

She said changes have been made to the bill which "clarifies the language on the claim that was made that people making $83,000 a year could receive SCHIP; that was patently not true, and it is clarified in the legislation that it is not so."

"It addresses who is eligible for the legislation and clearly defines eligibility and that does not include illegal aliens," Pelosi said. "They are not entitled to benefits. In fact, you cannot get benefits in our country unless you have been here for five years and legally so. The bill makes that very clear."

She said the new bill would "phase out" adults who are on the program, addressing a major concern for Republicans who pointed out that in some states, more adults were benefiting from the program than children.

I listened to the details on this health bill, and I thought it was ridiculous. They're wanting to give free children's health insurance to people making $82,000 a year and make us pay for it. My wife and I never made that much money, and we never got free health insurance. I have no big problem with the low income categories who can't afford health insurance, but we bought our own health insurance making less than half that much. SO, now we're going to be living on fixed incomes and still paying for our own insurance, but they want us to buy children's health insurance for people making more than double what we are?? They are insane.

Somehow I just don't think many loony-toons will be re-elected. I think that most folks have seen all they want. If we can't find any people with common sense to put in those offices, when can fill those offices with baboons and get much more intelligent representation. AND, the baboons would cause the morals, ethics, and IQ to double.   ;D

 ;D ;D ;D

You're cracking me up!  And I agree with every word!  I make less than a third of that, and pay for my insurance, rent, food, gas, dry goods, clothes, etc, etc. and was in the same situation when it was me and two kids I was raising alone.
This is not a democracy at all.  It is not for the people and by the people.  It's all about "gimme, gimme, and gimme more and there's nothing you can do about it because we're not listening!"
If they would rearrange their own finances they could wipe out poverty and homelessness in an instant.
And as far as medical care, I know that it costs virtually pennies on the dollar (I worked in pharmacy for 16 years and did the purchasing) to make the medicine that everyone needs.  But it goes from the manufactures, to the wholesalers, to the pharmacies, to the people at an appalling cost increase with each step.  And the ones that take it in the behind is the elderly on medicaid, etc that need more and more meds as they get older.
Yes, monkeys could do a better job and we'd get a hug and a grooming too!

It is all about government control. Some people in government want to control the people instead of the other way around. Communism is the main goal. We can see this by the more laws that are made that control what is done inside a persons home. If people are completely dependent on the government then the government has more control. We also see this in the many statements made by people like H. Clinton, Pelosi and Reid.

A lot of people are falling for it and giving up their liberties for the reasons that you gave. "I want more and don't want to have to work for it" thoughts.

This was exactly my thought but was afraid to say it out loud.

No need to fear that here. There are many that are of like mind on that.

hi Pastor,
I could'nt have said it better...
Let's not forget Hollywood & Mainstream Media,
The Dems. launching pad for success!
As long as people are willing to just take someones word as is (cnn,msnbc,cbs,abc,nbc)
We'll have people that will follow them where ever they say!
I like to decide after hearing both sides,Fair & Ballanced!

*SPEW*

Thanks brother, I need to clean my monitor now.

Rain showers ease wildfire conditions

By GARANCE BURKE, Associated Press Writer 10 minutes ago

LAKE ARROWHEAD, Calif. - Firefighters battled stubborn wildfires across Southern California on Saturday, but scattered showers brought a welcome improvement in conditions.
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Tropical moisture flowing from the south replaced the hot, dry Santa Ana winds that roared in a week earlier and spread fires over more than a half-million acres, destroying more than 2,300 structures, including 1,700 homes.

The number of deaths directly attributed to the fires officially rose to seven. Officials confirmed that the flames killed four suspected illegal immigrants whose charred bodies were found near the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, said Jose Alvarez, a public information officer for San Diego County emergency services. Identification of the victims was continuing.

Although more than a dozen blazes were surrounded, containment of nine other blazes ranged from 97 percent to just 25 percent. More than 21,000 structures were considered threatened, and more than 15,000 firefighters were on the lines, the state Office of Emergency Services said.

"It's very overcast right now, no wind. Low humidity, about 30 percent. They're talking about rain," said Audrey Hagen, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in San Diego.

Active fires burned in the Lake Arrowhead resort region of the towering San Bernardino Mountains 100 miles east of Los Angeles, and in rugged wilderness above isolated canyon communities of Orange County, southeast of Los Angeles. A big blaze 60 miles northeast of San Diego stopped its advance toward the mountain town of Julian.

One home burned Saturday morning in Arrowbear, east of Lake Arrowhead, after power was restored in the area and an electrical fire erupted in the residence, said Mike Huddleston, an investigation supervisor with the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

A wildfire was about a mile from thousands of homes in Arrowbear, Green Valley Lake and Running Springs. Rain began falling in the mountain range during the late afternoon.

"The fire is moving away from the residences, but with the wind anything can happen," said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Lisa Jones.

Forecasters said there would be some a weak flow of wind out of the north and northwest on Sunday and then a return to calm and drizzle.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told a news conference that he would work to improve problems in the state's deployment of firefighting aircraft when major wildfires erupt. The Associated Press reported Thursday that nearly two dozen military helicopters stayed grounded for days after several wildfires broke out because state personnel who must be on board were not immediately available.

Two of the California National Guard's C-130 cargo planes also couldn't help because they've yet to be outfitted with tanks needed to carry thousands of gallons of fire retardant, though that was promised four years ago.

"There are things that we could improve on and I think this is what we are going to do because a disaster like this ... in the end is a good vehicle, a motivator for everyone to come together," Schwarzenegger said. "I remember after Katrina, as sad as it is, but it takes sometimes a disaster like this to really wake everyone up and affect things."

In Southern California fire areas, about 4,400 people remained in 28 shelter sites, but others waited out the fires in makeshift encampments.

In Highland, at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains, about 20 people were in their sixth day of living in a Wal-Mart parking lot, getting daily visits from sheriff's officials who reported their 17 homes were still intact.

"What are the chances of that? The hundreds of people staying at the shelters, I still don't think they have the comfort of knowing that kind of information," said Robert Newbourgh, 44.

Light rain also fell on the Rancho Bernardo section of San Diego, where more than 360 homes were lost. National Guard troops patrolled and postal trucks delivered mail to homes that were still standing.

"Everybody is really happy for me and I'm sad for them," said Helena Hyman, a retired school administrator whose cul-de-sac home survived with five ruined homes on each side. She credited her good fortune to replacing wood shingles with a fiberglass roof and chopping down a eucalyptus tree within the last five years.

Bruce Heinemann, 48, spoke with an insurance adjuster as friends sifted through his ruined home, looking for his wife's wedding ring, photos and other mementos.

Meanwhile, his daughter was at a newly rented home making lists of what they lost, and his wife was visiting department stores to get prices for the insurers.

"The kind of mode you're in is, what do you do today? What do you do tomorrow? Just make a list and get it done," he said.

The Heinemanns had about 10 minutes to evacuate Monday morning, just enough time to escape with some clothes and three of their four cars.

Heinemann, a self-employed loan officer, said it makes financial sense to rebuild, but they may never return to live on the street where the fire left hopscotch destruction — some of the Spanish-style, tile-roofed homes left standing, while others were turned to ash, leaving burned-out cars, chimneys and remnants of refrigerators and washing machines.

"It sounds terrible, but I'm glad it's gone. How would you like to sit in your house when one third of your neighbors are gone?" he said.

Elsewhere in the community, mortgage broker Mike Bartholemew, 37, removed rotten food from his refrigerator as he waited for cleaners to vacuum soot from inside his home, which survived the flames.

Bartholemew said returning home stirred memories of the frightening experience as flames advanced toward his home at 4 a.m. Monday. He said he opened his front door to "a bellowing furnace, smoke and embers" as a palm tree across the street burned and neighbors screamed.

Bartholemew said his wife and two children fled in an SUV and he left in another car, but he fell unconscious for unknown reasons and crashed into a utility box. He said a police officer rescued him.

"I have never in my life been that scared. I kept repeating to myself, 'Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic.' The fact that no one died in this neighborhood is a miracle," he said.

Bartholemew said it was eerie to be surrounded by ruined homes but he was anxious to come back home as soon as electricity was restored.

"I don't know where I would move in San Diego with these dry Santa Ana conditions we get," he said. "I could move to Indiana, but they have tornadoes and floods. Everywhere you go in the country you get something. Here we have earthquakes and fires."

Rain showers ease wildfire conditions (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071028/ap_on_re_us/california_wildfires;_ylt=AnIOKtC4n2kweaxfJohyv4as0NUE)

Terror plotters urged setting fires in U.S.
Jihadist bulletin boards advocated arson before California blazes

While websites frequented by jihadis have been ablaze with claims of responsibility for setting the California wildfires, terror leaders also urged arson attacks as a tactic last summer, according to a new report in Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

In July, a post was made to numerous jihadist boards and then spread to a number of blogs citing a previously issued fatwa authorizing the setting of forest fires as a weapon of jihad. The post began "this is an invitation to the Muslims of Europe and America, Australia and Russia to burn forests." It went on to state the justification under Islamic Sharia law for this action and to cite its benefits for jihadists.

The post, revealed in G2 Bulletin's report, cites an undated video that shows Abu Mus'ab al Suri, author of "Call to Global Islamic Resistance" and advocate of the doctrine of individual terrorism, discussing the benefits to the jihad of setting forest fires.

Last year, the report points out, Maj. Robert Arthur Baird of the U.S. Marine Corps wrote in the May 2006 issue of Studies in Conflict and Terrorism: "The United States is at significant risk of a future pyro-terrorist attack – when terrorists unleash the latent energy in the nation's forests to achieve the effect of a weapon of mass destruction – the threat, must be defined America's vulnerabilities understood and action taken to mitigate this danger to the United States."

In his master's thesis, Major Baird also discusses arson as a terror tactic and sees it as a very real risk: "Instead of using expensive, complex and readily detectable nuclear or radiological bombs, a terrorist could easily ignite several massive wildfires to severely damage regional economies, impact military and firefighting forces and terrorize the American people."

He goes on to state that a terrorist has the potential to "unleash multiple fires creating a conflagration potentially equal to a multi-megaton nuclear weapon."

Is that what has happened this year?

California authorities have confirmed some of the wildfires were set deliberately, and a terror watch organization says the circumstances match terror plans the FBI alerted law enforcement to several years ago.

"In 2003 an FBI memo alerted law enforcement agencies that an al-Qaida terrorist being held in detention had talked of masterminding a plot to set a series of devastating forest fires around the western United States," the National Terror Alert Response Center warned.

"It was reported that the detainee, who was not identified, said the plan involved three or four people setting wildfires using timed devices in Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming that would detonate in forests and grasslands after the operatives had left the country," the advisory continued. "The detainee believed that significant damage to the U.S. economy would result and once it was realized that the fires were terrorist acts, U.S. citizens would put pressure on the U.S. government to change its policies."

WND reported in 2004 that an Arabic-language jihadi website also posted a message purporting to be "al-Qaida's plan of economic attack" on the U.S. that including proposals to turn the nation's forests into raging infernos. 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."

Less than two months ago, between four and five dozen people were killed and scores more hospitalized with serious injuries as a result of wildfires in portions of Greece. Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis expressed his suspicions.

"So many fires sparked simultaneously in so many places is no coincidence," he said when the blazes erupted.

And Terror Watch notes a top prosecutor in Greece now has begun investigating whether the arsons were, in fact, terrorism.

Dimitris Papangelopoulos said the investigation will determine "whether the crimes of arsonists and of arson attacks on forests" should be prosecuted under the nation's anti-terrorism law.

Arab terrorists in Israel have started dozens of major forest fires over the years.

As far back as 1988, Israeli police caught more than a dozen Palestinian adults in the act of setting fires, while other Arabs confessed to arson after arrest. Some fires followed specific calls by underground Arab terrorists. A leaflet issued by the Palestinian uprising's underground leadership called for "the destruction and burning of the enemy's properties, industry and agriculture."

2,007 homes lost in 2007 California fires
Destruction of dwellings ironically matches present year

Some Southland residents turn to worship and cleanup, as authorities say they are gaining the upper hand on remaining fires.


The series of firestorms that laid siege to large swaths of Southern California over the last week had been mostly tamed by Sunday, as residents turned to worship and cleanup, and firefighters appeared to be corralling the few remaining blazes.

Evacuation orders throughout the region had largely been lifted by noon Sunday. In the seven Southern California counties affected by the fires, 1,454 people remained in public shelters that had held well over 20,000 only days before.

 By nightfall, three more fires had been contained, and firefighters said they had all but contained one more.

Optimism over improving conditions was tinged, nonetheless, with caution: Three fires were only two-thirds to three-fourths contained by Sunday night, and 2,007 homes had been lost.

"We've turned a corner here," said Frank McCarton, chief deputy director in the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. "But we have a long road for recovery, and we need to focus on that now."

Throughout the region, fire victims and their neighbors turned to the job of recovery, some starting with spiritual renewal as congregants of Malibu Presbyterian Church gathered Sunday at the Malibu Performing Arts Center -- down the hill from where their 50-year-old church lay in ruins -- and a small group of evacuees took part in services at Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds, which is being used as a shelter.

At Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Chargers fans filled the stands where fire victims had sat only days before.

In neighborhoods throughout the region, residents ventured home, some finding little more than ashes and others learning to their amazement that their precious belongings had been spared.

"We are on to the recovery stage," said Michelle Sheffler, 41, who lost her home in San Diego's Rancho Bernardo community. "I see people moving forward."

Still, firefighters and others cautioned that the long battle was not yet over. The Santiago fire in Orange County was 65% contained as of Sunday night and was not expected to be fully surrounded until Friday. The Harris fire in San Diego County was 70% contained and was expected to be encircled by Wednesday.

It will take months or even years to rebuild the homes, businesses and the Malibu church that succumbed to the 35 fires that swept through seven counties.

Bill Peters, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said that if high winds return, the fires could flare up again.

"We definitely are closing in on it," he said. "The bulk of the fires are fully contained or near containment, unless we get some adverse weather to kick us back into active fire."

The most destructive of the blazes, San Diego County's Witch fire, had been 90% contained -- after destroying 1,040 homes and 30 businesses and killing two people.

The Rice fire near Fallbrook -- 206 homes destroyed -- and the Horno/Ammo fire at Camp Pendleton were fully contained Sunday, officials said, as was the Ranch fire in northern Los Angeles County -- the first of the fires.

Similarly, San Bernardino County's Grass Valley fire, which claimed 174 homes, and Slide fire, which took 200 homes, were nearing total containment.

More work

Significant work remained to gain control of the Santiago fire in eastern Orange County and the Poomacha fire in northeastern San Diego County. But both were more than 50% contained and neither posed an immediate threat to homes or businesses.

The series of blazes, which once stretched from Ventura County to south of the U.S.-Mexico border, will go down as among the most destructive in recent California history. The fires destroyed 2,813 structures. They charred 518,489 acres -- an area more than double the size of New York City -- while killing seven people and injuring 113 firefighters and 26 civilians.

Only two recent fire disasters have taken a heavier toll: the 2003 firestorm that destroyed 3,500 homes while striking many of the same mountain communities and the 1991 Oakland hills fire, which took about 3,000 homes.

Most fire victims had returned home by Sunday. Red Cross officials announced that they had closed 14 of 20 shelters.

The number of evacuees housed in public shelters throughout the seven-county region had dipped to 1,454, said Greg Renick, spokesman for the Office of Emergency Services.

Symbolic of the shift was San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium, which last week had housed up to 13,000 of the displaced, but which Sunday again became the home of professional football's San Diego Chargers.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger opened the game with the coin flip and then thanked the emergency workers in attendance.

Firefighters led the hometown Chargers onto the field, where they proceeded to drub the Houston Texans, 35-10.

During the game, Schwarzenegger went to the private box of Chargers owner Dean Spanos to phone President Bush, according to a spokesman.

The governor reportedly thanked the president for coming to California to tour fire-ravaged areas, but then repeatedly stressed the importance of "follow-through" on the part of the federal government.

Fans were in a celebratory mood. At tailgate parties on the stadium grounds, fans enjoyed the smell of barbecue -- even if it was mixed with the lingering odor of burning brush. They toted signs -- "Can't Burn our Spirit" and "Thank you, First Responders, God Bless" -- and lustily cheered the many emergency workers who attended the game.

"It's awesome," said Angel Gomez, 38, of Rancho Penasquitos, who watched the game at the Del Mar fairgrounds shelter. "What else do we have to bring everyone together except the Chargers, the firefighters and the great community?"

The army of personnel and equipment brought to Southern California during the onslaught is only now on the verge of returning to home bases as far away as Seattle and New Mexico. As of Sunday, 13,135 firefighters and other emergency workers remained in the field, staffing 1,477 engines.

Nearly 2,000 of the firefighters continued to battle the Santiago fire in the extremely dense brush of the Cleveland National Forest.

Crews used 18 bulldozers, as well as hand tools, as they began cutting 10 miles of new firebreak around a blaze that had blackened more than 28,000 acres. It was 65% contained late Sunday.

Eight air tankers and 13 helicopters aided the ground crews.

"It's a contingency plan," said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Stephen Miller, "in case things go south on us."

Humidity climbing

Gone, however, were the low humidity and wind gusts of 70 miles per hour and more that bedeviled mountain and canyon areas last week. The National Weather Service said that humidity could climb as high as 70% in coming days and that a bit of drizzle could even fall on the region.

The forecast for next weekend looks more problematic, with the return of gusty winds, but probably not as strong as those that pushed the fires beyond control.

The decreasing threat meant that many San Bernardino Mountain communities reopened Sunday, including Twin Peaks, Rimforest, Blue Jay, Agua Fria, Deer Lodge Park, Sky Forest and Cedar Glen.

Dawn King, 52, upon returning with her husband, Kent, 46, to the second home they have been renovating in Rimforest, was overjoyed that "we never saw one bit of charring of anything. There wasn't even a smell of smoke. It was like nothing ever happened. I thought, 'Thank God, everything is OK. Thank God.' "

But others -- including San Bernardino County residents and people who live near the Santiago fire -- would have to wait until today, at the earliest, to get permission to go back home.

Orange County officials said they had to complete assessments before they would give the "all clear" for Silverado Canyon, with its 750 homes and surrounding neighborhoods.

Amid the progress, people tried to deal with the trauma of the last week.

Congregants of Malibu Presbyterian Church, undaunted by last week's Canyon fire that destroyed their house of worship, gathered Sunday at the Malibu Performing Arts Center.

"It feels good to be back, but it's not the place we're used to," the Rev. Greg Hughes said as he prepared to lead the service.

Before the service, Mike Rupp, 46, tiptoed through the charred remains of the old church, near Pepperdine University.

Rupp said he was married in the church and his two children were baptized there.

"This was a really cool place, and it will be again," Rupp said.

Tax relief offered for wildfire victims
IRS commish says meeting deadline is 'last thing they should worry about'

The Internal Revenue Service on Monday gave residents of California counties hit by wildfires extra time to file tax returns.

The tax agency said those affected by the fires will have until Jan. 31, 2008, to file returns and pay taxes on items due on or after Oct. 21, when the fires began. Those items include the federal withholding tax return, Form 941, normally due Oct. 31, and the estimated tax payment for the fourth quarter, normally due Jan. 15.

Taxpayers in seven counties covered by a presidential disaster declaration are eligible for the delay. They are Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties

Certain penalty deposits due between Oct. 21 and Nov. 5 will also be waived as long as the deposits are made by Nov. 5.

"As California taxpayers start the recovery process, the last thing they should worry about is meeting a tax deadline," said acting IRS commissioner Linda Stiff.

The IRS said its computers identify taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and apply automatic filing and payment relief.

It said that taxpayers in the disaster area also have the option of claiming disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for either this year or last year.

Next is the Mud-slides!
This happens almost every year and the tax payers bail them out...

Yes, the mudslides  ...  where is the wisdom, the intelligense, in building super highly expensive homes on soft dirt or sand cliffs. The taxpayers should not be stuck with footing the replacement of them. It is ridiculous.

Mat 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Officials: Boy With Matches Started Fire

Officials blamed a wildfire that consumed more than 38,000 acres and destroyed 21 homes last week on a boy playing with matches, and said they would ask a prosecutor to consider the case.

The boy, whose name and age were not released, admitted to sparking the fire on Oct. 21, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Diane Hecht said Tuesday. Ferocious winds helped it quickly spread.

"He admitted to playing with matches and accidentally starting the fire," Hecht said in a statement.

The boy was released to his parents, and the case will be presented to the district attorney's office, Hecht said. It was not clear if he had been arrested or cited by detectives.

The fire began in an area near Agua Dulce and quickly spread. It was among 15 or so major wildfires that killed 14 people, destroyed some 2,100 homes and blackened 809 square miles from Los Angeles to the Mexican border last week.

Authorities arrested five people for arson during that period, but none have been linked to any of the major blazes.

All but four of the blazes are now fully contained. Firefighters on Wednesday continued to cut lines around the remaining fires and kept a close eye on the weather.

Forecasters have said moderate Santa Ana winds could pick up later in the week.

Investigators have blamed an arsonist for setting a destructive wildfire in Orange County that blackened 28,500 acres and destroyed 16 homes.

Authorities were seeking the driver of a white Ford F-150 pickup truck spotted in a canyon area around the time the fire broke out. They said they wanted to talk to the driver, but stopped short of calling the person a suspect.

Officials offered a $285,000 reward to anyone with information that will lead to an arrest and conviction.

California firefighters brace for return of winds 
Crews, airplanes still on site – mobilized for expected change in weather

Applying lessons learned just a week ago, Southern California is lining up fire crews and aircraft to get a jump on wildfires if the hot, dry Santa Ana winds expected to return this weekend cause major flare-ups.

None of more than two dozen air tankers and military helicopters that arrived from around the country to fight last month's blazes are returning to their home bases, said Francis Solich, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF).

"If anything breaks loose, they'll be here," Solich said Friday.

The state also has 75 "strike teams" of fire engines spread throughout Southern California, Solich said.

Also Friday, Marines began training with state firefighters at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, and will be available to join firefighting efforts this weekend if needed.

"We are training them on how to work in our airspace. The Marines are great pilots, but they don't have any experience in how we fight fires," said CDF Capt. Matt Streck.

When more than 15 fires began breaking out across Southern California two weeks ago, it took more than 24 hours for nearly two dozen firefighting helicopters to get into the air.

By the time aircraft began arriving in large numbers, the winds were gusting at 100 mph or more in some areas, making it too dangerous to use them for firefighting.

State officials initially said the winds were to blame for the slow airborne response to the fires. That version of events was later challenged by San Diego-area congressmen, some local fire officials and by government records that show it was bureaucracy that kept many aircraft grounded.

Christians sweep up
California fire mess
Pastor: 'We have been housing
animals, pets, feeding people'

News about the widespread California wildfire have faded from the headlines, but Christian organisations and churches remain behind to help clean up the overwhelming destruction left by the fires.

Christian relief groups and local churches were some of the first to respond to the wildfires that ravaged southern California last week. Workers prepared meals and drinks for firefighters and evacuated locals. They provided counseling and comfort to distressed victims who fled their homes leaving everything behind except the clothes they had on.

At one point up to a million people were estimated to have been evacuated.

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee’s Disaster Response Services (CRWRC-DRS) said it was holding a house-to-house needs assessment and reconstruction response among 1,800 homes and businesses that were destroyed. The church relief group is in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross and other agencies to plan to assist homeowners.

“With church groups from other parts of the country ready to assist, we are coordinating possible follow-up work with evacuees to help assess their losses, their eligibility for aid, and their available resources,” said CRWRC-DRS director Bill Adams.

They plan to focus on the most vulnerable survivors – those without insurance, the elderly, handicapped, and those surviving below the poverty line.

CRWRC-DRS also rebuilt homes in low-income neighbourhoods in the East hills near San Diego after wildfires in 2003.

International Christian relief and development agency World Vision is also working among survivors. It is distributing household basics to area families including bottled water, face masks, bedding and blankets, clothing, personal hygiene products, diapers and baby food, ground coffee and cleaning supplies.

World Vision will distribute the goods to local churches and community organisations who will in turn distribute them to evacuees.

Corporations who have donated supplies to World Vision’s California fire effort include Cardinal Health, Cypress Medical, Wal-Mart, Starbucks, KIDS and others to amount to an estimated $2 million worth in product.

“It will take time for life to return to normal here,” said Jo Carcedo, World Vision’s area director for Southern California.

“World Vision is especially concerned about families whose homes have been completely destroyed, who didn’t have insurance, who may have lost their jobs or who were already struggling financially,” Carcedo said. “We’ll continue working closely with our church partners in affected communities to make sure these families receive the support they need to get back on their feet.”

Saddleback Valley Community Church has also pitched in to help provide food, housing, comfort and counseling to victims.

“It's been a busy, busy week," Saddleback senior pastor Rick Warren said on CNN's "Larry King Live" show last week. The 128-acre campus served as an evacuation centre for refugees and as a “refreshment centre” for about 500 firefighters.

“We have been housing animals, pets, feeding people,” noted Warren.

The megachurch pastor said more than 600 people from his church’s college ministry went into the hardest-hit areas of San Diego to pray, clean up and offered help.

In total, there were 23 wildfires in Southern California which was blamed for at least 14 deaths, more than 508,000 scorched acres, and the destruction of over 1,600 homes.

AMEN Pastor,
GO Christians, Show your LOVE!!!! :'(
I Praise God for groups such as these....
Angels in Heaven are watching and Praising God for What you are doing!
Halliluja, Glory BE to GOD!
Your Loving Brother Duane

Again California Wildfire Spurs Evacuation of 10,000 People

A California wildfire, fanned by Santa Ana winds acting as ``a blowtorch with a hairdryer behind it,'' forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people near Malibu, said Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Sam Padilla.

The winds were gusting at 70 miles (112 kilometers) an hour, Padilla said. More than 1,700 firefighters are battling the blaze, which started at 3:27 a.m. local time, said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman. At least 35 homes were destroyed and more than 2,200 acres (890 hectares) were burning, he said.

The fire is shifting in a northwest direction and may subside as the gusts die down. ``There are some silver linings as we stand here today,'' Malibu Mayor Jeff Jennings said in a televised news conference. ``The winds are giving firefighters a chance to hammer the fire and bring it under control.''

Last month, wildfires burned more than 517,000 acres over two weeks in an area from Los Angeles to San Diego, which included Malibu. As many as 1 million people were forced to flee their homes and more than 2,000 structures were destroyed.

Jennings said no one has died, though five firefighters have sustained minor injuries fighting today's blaze.

Pepperdine

Today's fire started in the Mesa Peak Mountain-Corral Canyon area ``off a paved highway,'' Freeman said. Arson investigators were at the site.

Embers were being carried by the winds as far as one mile, igniting homes, Padilla said. Twenty-three aircraft were deployed, including helicopters that were dipping into backyard swimming pools to scoop up water to fight the flames.

As the fire neared the Pacific Coast Highway, firefighters were attempting to protect the structures from flames, Freeman said.

Surrounding areas are contributing personnel and equipment to help fight the blaze.

``The City of Los Angeles is committed to providing whatever assistance is necessary to fight this fire,'' Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said in an e-mailed statement.

Pepperdine University ordered the relocation of certain Malibu campus residents, according to its Web site. Some students and faculty had left the campus for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, leaving fewer than 2,000 people on the premises, spokesman Jerry Derloshon said in a broadcast interview.

The October fires may cost insurers $900 million to $1.6 billion, according to an estimate from Risk Management Solutions, a catastrophe modeling firm based in Newark, California.

Voracious Malibu Fire Claims 35 Homes, Forces 14,000 Evacuations
Officials: Blaze 25 Percent Contained, More Than 17,000 Firefighters Battling Blaze

A fast-moving wildfire pushed by Santa Ana winds raced through the canyons and mountains of this wealthy enclave for the second time in little more than a month Saturday, destroying more than 30 homes and forcing as many as 14,000 residents to flee.

The fire erupted shortly before 3:30 a.m. after the long-predicted Santa Anas finally returned, and it quickly grew before the winds died down. By midafternoon it was estimated at 4,500 acres, or about 7 square miles, with 25 percent containment.

"Waking up at 4 in the morning with the smell of smoke in your nose and the wind beating at the windows is something that we learn to live with here, but it always comes as something of a shock," said Mayor Jeff Jennings.

Fifteen helicopters and 15 airplanes, including a retardant-dropping DC-10 jumbo jet, attacked from the air while 1,700 firefighters battled flames on the ground. One firefighter suffered an unspecified moderate injury, and five others suffered minor injuries.

"It's great to be able to say that we have no loss of lives," Jennings said.

Helicopters lowered hoses into pools and the nearby Pacific to refill their tanks for water-dropping runs, and SuperScooper amphibious airplanes skimmed the ocean to reload.

Hundreds of firefighters and equipment from throughout the state had been positioned in Southern California for most of the week because of the predicted winds, which had been expected to blow most of the week but didn't arrive until late Friday.

Officials remained wary despite the decrease in wind speeds.

The mayor urged residents to "listen to your radios, go outside and see which way the wind is blowing. Stay alert. Stay vigilant."

An estimated 35 homes were destroyed, and 10,000 to 14,000 people evacuated, said Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman.

The fire broke out along a dirt road off a paved highway, and there did not appear to be power lines in the area, Freeman said. Investigators were trying to determine the cause, he said.

As a precaution, officials at Pepperdine University told its students to move to a campus shelter, although the school remained largely empty because of the holiday weekend.

Another fire broke out Saturday morning in San Diego County near the town of Ramona and was 40 percent contained after burning 50 acres, said Roxanne Provanik, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Power lines blown down by fierce winds caused last month's 4,565-acre Canyon Fire in Malibu that destroyed six homes, two businesses and a church. That blaze was part of siege of more than 15 Santa Ana-stoked wildfires that destroyed more than 2,000 homes, killed 14 people and blackened a total of 809 square miles between Los Angeles County and the U.S.-Mexico border.

Santa Anas, triggered by high pressure over the Great Basin, blow into Southern California from the north and northeast, racing down through the canyons and passes of the region's east-west mountain ranges and out to sea, pushing back the normal flow of moist ocean air.

Malibu, with homes tucked into deep and narrow canyons along 27 miles of coast on the southern foot of the Santa Monica Mountains, is prone to Santa Ana-driven wildfires. Among them was a 1993 blaze that destroyed 388 structures, including 268 homes, and killed three people.

Saturday's fire burned to the west of the portions of Malibu that burned in October.

Neighbors alerted one another, while authorities drove through Corral Canyon, a neighborhood of about 350 homes, telling people to leave. Along some narrow roads, several homes were reduced to embers while their neighbors were untouched.

Meredith Lobel-Angel, 51, and her husband, Frank Angel, 54, said they had 15 minutes to leave their split-level home and managed to take little other than some clothes and their laptops.

"I ran out on the deck and I just saw a little fire and smoke up the canyon on the ridge (about a mile away)," Frank Angel said. "By the time we evacuated it was already over the ridge. It spread faster than I've ever seen it."

Firefighters told Carol Stoddard, 48, that her home was probably gone. The 3,500-square-foot, seven-level home was worth $2 million.

Stoddard, a freelance videographer and photographer, captured some of the fire's destruction as trees beside her home and her collection of 12 uninsured cars burned.

"I stayed there until I couldn't breathe and the embers were flying everywhere," she said. "It was dark and I was standing around my house. I couldn't see. I couldn't grab enough stuff that was of importance like my passport."

Some evacuees were treated to moments of joy and relief.

Geraldine Gilliland, 56, shrieked with happiness as an animal control officer reunited her with her six dogs and 21-year-old cat, left in her house when the fire drove workers at the property down the canyon.

"Oh my God. They got them, they got them, they got them!" she said, kneeling to embrace her pets.

"You can't put a price on human life or canine life; these are my babies."