MASSIVE EVACUATION ordered between I-5 & I-15. Homes burning, residents trapped

[Bluebear]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/fireblog/

Fire "much worse than Cedar fire". Qualcomm Stadium set up as evacuation center. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for a huge swath totaling 100 square miles and ranging from Interstate 5 on the west across Interstate 15 to the east, and north from state Route 56 to Lake Hodges, said San Diego fire department spokesman Maurice Luque.

Flames penetrated Rancho Bernardo from the northeast beginning around 3:30 a.m., and have jumped Interstate 15 at Carmel Valley Road, Luque said.

An undetermined number of homes are burning and there are reports of people trapped in their homes and cars, Luque said.

The flames are threatening to burn into Rancho Santa Fe, Luque said.

Residents can seek shelter at any of the designated high schools or Qualcomm Stadium, Luque said.

A force of 240 firefighters with 60 engines are trying to stop the blaze from advancing farther through the area. Ambulances are in the area to help the elderly and ill who cannot evacuate themselves, he said.

[Bluebear]

1. KOGO: "Helicopters are not going to be able to work this fire anytime soon"

[hatrack]

2. It's still that windy?

Good God.

[Theres-a]

3. CNN

Yesterday there was a reporter from CA on CNN that said the Santa Ana winds are worst in the morning.It's 8am out there.:(

[maddezmom]

7. CNN and MSNBC keep reporting Hurricane force winds

:(

[Botany]

4. That is a huge area

It is chaparral and is designed to burn.

[Roland99]

11. Google Maps link

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=Rancho+Bernardo,+ca&ie=UTF8&ll=32.998874,-117.175369&spn=0.183416,0.283585&z=12&om=1

[necso]

5. We're not getting much data on the SD county fires

out of the LA (etc; broadcast) tv stations (or so it seems).

Some (outdated) MODIS data (huge image, you'll need to cut and paste):

activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/resources/2007294/ca-south-000/crefl2_A2007294201118-2007294202102_250m_ca-south-000_721.jpg

Outdated, but good for comparison purposes with today's image. (More recent data would be nice.)

MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program, SoCal page:

http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/imagery.php?op=fire&fireID=ca-south-000

Site from some dude at SDSU:

http://map.sdsu.edu/

...

perspective (point of view) synonyms: context, outlook, point-of-view, standpoint, viewpoint

perspective (relative position) synonyms: angle, aspect, attitude, direction, panorama, prospect, relation, vista, side

[JMDEM]

6. Why don't they call in the National Guard?

Oh yea -- not available.

Not available for New Orleans.

Not available for this firestorm.

[hlthe2b]

10. Well, I'm looking at the huge installation known as Camp Pendleton

Anybody left THERE that could help? NOT with law enforcement (ever concerned re: posse comitatus), but with evacuations....:shrug:

[LeftCoast]

8. CNN is reporting that a lot of people who refused to evacuate are now needing rescue

They say this is pulling firefighters from the front lines.

Has anyone heard any more about this?

[Misskittycat]

9. It's really bad here. I'm near the coast but the sky is full of smoke. During

the middle of the night the wind was howling and blowing more strongly than I've seen since I moved here in 1981.

The weather conditions are due to continue for another day or so at least, so there is little relief in sight.

[KurtNYC]

12. sorry to hear that

hang in there :hug:

[Misskittycat]

13. Thanks, but I'm lucky so far. No fire this far west. n/t

[Ilsa]

14. Thanks for the updates, everyone. A friend lives further south,

but she and her husband are out of the country right now. They had to evacuate two years ago for another huge fire in San Diego, and the canyon behind their house burned.

I think her oldest daughter is there right now, and I bet she can handle an evacuation, if it is called, for further south.

[Reader Rabbit]

15. My brother and his family are in the Scripps Ranch area.

The one that burned down a few years ago. Can anyone tell me if that area is in danger? (I'm at work and can't call.)

Thanks.

[MindPilot]

16. Scripps Ranch was placed under mandatory evacuation about an hour ago

Sorry. I hope they are OK. I'm trying to get a link, but the news site servers are very slow.

http://fireblog.signonsandiego.com/

Scripps Ranch update:
2:38 p.m.
No residents will be allowed into the Scripps Ranch area. Only emergency personnel will be allowed into the area.

No one will be allowed to travel east into Scripps Ranch and going north is not an option either.

Please evacuate to Qualcomm Stadium by going south on Interstate 15.

[Reader Rabbit]

18. Thanks for the update. SignonSandiego wasn't working for me.

I called my mom from the classroom (luckily the kids are working quietly). She's going to try to find out what's going on and I'll call her back once school's out.

[Reader Rabbit]

21. Just talked to my mom.

My brother and his wife packed up the kids and some necessaries into two cars and are on the road to a friend's house. Hopefully, that area won't need to be evacuated, too! From what it sounds like, people in the evacuation zone can only go south. Is this the case?

[Midlodemocrat]

23. My brother's SIL and BIL are in Rancho Santa Fe and they're

heading towards the water if that helps any. Thinking good thoughts for your brother.

[suffragette]

19. Here's a tv link

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/index.html

Once there, look to the right for live video link.
They are reporting on all the evacuation orders.

Also, here's a text link to another station. It details the evacuation orders, including Scripps Ranch:
http://www.cbs8.com/


I've been keeping track since I have family in the area as well.

Edited to add text link

[Midlodemocrat]

17. Oh, no. My SIL's sister lives in Rancho Santa Fe.

But, she's rich, so it will serve her right if her house burns.

:sarcasm:

[hayu_lol]

20. The Santanas, old California term for these desert winds...

are exceedingly violent. Wind speeds can exceed 90 mph. Humidity drops to almost 0%.

Before I moved to Oregon, I lived in Cucamonga CA...right in the wind channel. These winds were enough to twist a 2 story, 2400 sq ft home and break windows.

People down there are used to them, however once fire starts anything can happen.

One of the things you live with like quakes and Santanas in Southern CA.

[Midlodemocrat]

22. My brother just emailed me that his SIL, BIL and the three kids

have been evacuated and are heading for the water. Thank God. At least they are safe.

This is so very, very terrible. My heart breaks for those people affected by this. Imagine seeing everything you ever owned completely destroyed. Awful. :cry: