San Diego Headline News, the news you want when you want it!

Wild Fires
Rip Through San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA - (10-27-03) Strong Santa Ana winds are fueling two separate fires through large areas of San Diego Sunday.

(photo left from the San Diego County website)

According to a CDF spokesperson, numerous structures have been lost in both the Valley Center fire, as well as the Ramona fire. The San Diego Fire Department is asking residents in the Scripps Ranch area, who believe they are in the path of the fire, to prepare to evacuate to Mire Mesa High School. Information will be updated as it becomes available.

Updates:

11:00am All off duty San Diego City firefighters are requested to report to fire station 28 as soon as possible.

1:30pm Fire burned through the Scripps Ranch neighborhood and into the Tierrasanta and Clairemont areas. Most residences are being saved, however some homes in Scripps Ranch have burned.

2:00pm The Red Cross is operating the following emergency evacuation shelters - St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 450 S. Stage Coach Lane, Fallbrook · Olive Peirce Middle School, 1541 Hanson Lane, Ramona · Ramona High School, 1401 Hanson Lane, Ramona · Santana High School, 9915 Magnolia Avenue, Santee · Poway Community Center, 13094 Bowron Road, Poway · Mira Mesa High School, 10510 Reagan Road, San Diego - Qualcomm Stadium - Balboa Park, Municipal Gymnasium, 2111 Pan American Place. Evacuation information in the city of San Diego can be reached at 619-570-1070.

3:38pm Governor Davis declared San Diego County a disaster area.

4:26pm Residents are asked to conserve water.

5:00pm Most schools around the county will be closed Monday. Most nonessential government employees will not work.

Thick smoke forced a small plane to make an emergency landing Sunday afternoon. It happened around 4pm on SR-163. The pilot and sole occupant suffered only minor injuries.

The picture to the right is a photo from NASA of the southern California brush fires.

Wild Fires
Continue to Burn

SAN DIEGO, CA - (10-28-03) Strong Santa Ana winds continued to fuel two separate wild fires Monday in San Diego. According to a CDF spokesperson, numerous structures have been lost in both the Paradise Fire, as well as the Cedar Fire.

All nonessential San Diego City government offices will be closed again Tuesday.

President Bush declared a State of Emergency in San Diego.

Monday Updates:

3:00am Fire in the Alpine area is forcing officials to evacuate portions of Alpine and Descanso.

5:00am Firefighters are continuing to watch for hot spots and small fires have been reported in Tierrasanta.

8:00am Residents in the Crest are being evacuated.

10:48am Residents in the Paradise Mountain and Hellhole Canyon areas of Escondido are being evacuated. In Escondido the evacuation center is the Emmanuel Faith Community Church at 639 East Felicita Avenue.

11:00am A fire that started Sunday afternoon on Otay Mountain is threatening the Jamul area. No structures have been damaged at this fire and no injuries have been reported.

11:00am According to a San Miguel Fire Department spokesperson, numerous homes were lost in the Crest area.

12:30pm Additional evacuation centers have been opened at the following locations. Julian High School, 1656 Highway 78, Julian and Mountain Empire Junior and Senior High School, 3305 Buckman Springs Drive, Pine Valley.

2:37pm Residents in the San Carlos and Tierrasanta areas are allowed to return to their homes.

3:18pm Drinking water will be made available to residents in Crest beginning at 4pm. The location is Crest Elementary School, located at 2000 Suncrest Boulevard.

4:18pm A portion of Scripps Ranch has been reopened. All areas except the following streets are reopened: Avenida Magnifica, Scripps Trails, Oakbend Drive, Elderwood Road and South of Spring Canyon Road.

5:00pm Strong Santa Ana winds began to diminish Monday evening.

5:25pm A portion of the area around Eagle Crest Country Club in Escondido has been reopened.

10:21pm SDFD ANNOUNCEMENT: All "C" Division firefighters scheduled to work Tuesday, 10/28, report to your normally assigned stations with Personal Protective equipment and wait for further instruction.

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SAN DIEGO, CA - Wild fires are leaving a path of destruction in San Diego. The photos (right and below) show a row of houses destroyed Sunday in the Scripps Ranch area.

Wild Fires
Continue to Burn

SAN DIEGO, CA - (10-29-03) Diminishing high pressure gave way to an onshore flow Tuesday. Fire burning in the Descanso area is now heading towards Julian. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for all of Julian. Twelve deaths are being blamed on the fires, and more than 1000 homes have been destroyed. Officials say an estimated 400,000 acres have burned around the County.

Tuesday Updates

8:40am Estimated time for containment is expected on November 5th, at 6pm.

12:20pm Mandatory evacuations for the town of Julian. Residents should exit north on Farmer Road to Wynola Road, east on Wynola to 78 and east toward the desert. Mandatory evacuations are in place in the Julian, Descanso, Pine Valley and Guatay areas. People in the Palomar Mountain area should make evacuation plans and prepare to leave. Most roads in the area will be closed to inbound traffic. Highway 67 is open between Lakeside and Ramona, and the Poway Grade is closed between Espola Road and 67.

3:30pm The red Cross set up an evacuation center in Borrego Springs at Borrego Springs High School, 2281 Dieguero Road.

4:46pm Mandatory evacuations are in effect in the following areas: Harrison Park, Pine Hills, North Peak, Griffith Road and Keys Road in Ramona, Rancho Jamul Estates, Johnson Lake and Rocoso, Eucalyptus Hills, Guejito and Lake Wohlford Oakdale Rincon Reservation - 13900 'Woods Valley Road.

7:00pm Much of Cuyamaca has been destroyed. Strong winds are pushing the fire east. Firestorm conditions are reported near Julian.

Julian Saved!

JULIAN, CA - (10-30-03) One firefighter is dead Wednesday and three others injured after the group they were with was overcome by fire. It happened around 1pm in the Winola area.

Neighborhoods around Julian suffered significant damage Wednesday, but the Downtown area was saved. The town does remains under threat of fire, however much of the area around it has already burned. More than 200 homes were lost in the Kentwood in the Pines area alone. Flames 300' tall came within 1/4 mile of town, but that was it. Firefighters kept it from spreading into the historic Downtown district.

Wednesday Updates

7:00pm The Cedar fire has burned 251,000 acres and is currently 15% contained. Estimated time for full containment is expected on November 5th, at 6pm. 1483 homes have been destroyed. The following communities remain threatened: Ramona, Pine Hills, Julian, Guatay, Cuyamaca, Mount Laguna, Harrison Park, Whispering Pines and Wynola.

7:00pm The Paradise fire has burned 49,800 acres and is currently 20% contained. Estimated time for full containment is expected on November 1st, at 6pm. 117 homes have been destroyed. The following communities remain threatened: Escondido, Deer Springs, Mesa Grande, La Jolla, Mt. Palomar.

7:00pm The Otay fire is currently 100% contained. A total of 46,291 acres have burned. 1 home was destroyed.

8:15pm The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for the San Diego mountain areas. Winds from 30-40mph are expected with gusts up to 50mph.

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The Cedar Fire is now being called the largest fire in California history.

Light Rain Slows Fires

SAN DIEGO, CA - (10-31-03) Drizzle and light rain fell off and on most of the day around San Diego County Thursday. That allowed firefighters a chance to make some progress at slowing down two large brush fires still burning. The Cedar Fire is now 38% contained (full containment is expected November, 5th). The Paradise Fire is now 30% contained (full containment is expected November, 3rd). In the past week fire has claimed thirteen lives and destroyed more than 2000 homes around the county.

Thursday Updates

1:30am The Paradise fire is directly threatening the Palomar Mountain area.

4:00am Drizzle and light rain began to fall around much of the county.

3:30pm Mandatory evacuations are reinstated for Palomar Mountain.

7:00pm The Cedar fire continues to threaten the following communities: Ramona, Pine Hills, Julian, Guatay, Cuyamaca, Mt. Laguna, Santa Isabel, Ranchita.

7:00pm The Paradise Fire continues to threaten the following communities: Deer Springs, Mesa Grande, La Jolla, Mt. Palomar.

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Wildfire UPDATE
SAN DIEGO, CA - (11-1-03) The Cedar Fire is now 81% contained, and the Paradise Fire is 60% contained. Both fires are expected to be fully contained on November, 3rd. Over the past week fire has claimed sixteen lives and destroyed more than 2350 homes. A total of 330,000 acres have been burned around the county.

Wildfire UPDATE:
SAN DIEGO, CA - (11-2-03) The Cedar Fire is now 90% contained, and the Paradise Fire is 70% contained. Both fires are expected to be fully contained on November, 3rd. Over the past week, fire has claimed sixteen lives and destroyed 2,405 homes. A total of 330,000 acres have been burned around the county.

Wildfire UPDATE:

SAN DIEGO, CA - (11-03-03) The Cedar Fire is now 95% contained, and the Paradise Fire is 75% contained. Both fires are expected to be fully contained on November, 3rd. Over the past week, fire has claimed sixteen lives and destroyed 2,406 homes. A total of 337,000 acres have been burned around the county.

(photo from US Forest Service)

Fire UPDATE:

SAN DIEGO, CA - Winter rain brings the threat of mudslides to areas destroyed by fire. Sandbags are available for fire victims at the following locations: Alpine Road Station, 2914 Tavern Road, Julian Road Station, 1524 North Highway 78, Lakeside Road Station, 13115 Willow Road, Ramona, 1165th Street, Valley Center, 28568 Cole Grade Road.

The Cedar Fire is now 99% contained, and full containment is expected on November 4th. The Paradise Fire is 77% contained, and full containment is expected on November, 8th. (photo from the US Forest Service)