4S Ranch, Fairbanks Ranch evacuated

[Zorro]

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

More than 20,000 North County homes were evacuated Tuesday as flames fanned by stiff gusts of wind burned a huge swath of canyons from Del Norte High School in 4S Ranch west to Fairbanks Ranch and Rancho Santa Fe Tuesday.

Flames roared through brushy canyons and swirled within feet of homes and luxury hilltop estates. Hundreds of firefighters from around the county fought the blaze with help from airtankers and helicopters. About 700 acres had burned as of 4 p.m., and it was only 5 percent contained.

The blaze broke out near Del Norte High about 10:40 a.m. and about an hour later swept across Camino del Sur at Lusardi Creek and continued west.

The fire threatened estates in Rancho Santa Fe and Fairbanks Ranch, but none were destroyed as of mid-afternoon. Numerous roads were closed through the winding, wooded communities. Many residents left with cars packed full of belongings, but others stayed behind to hose down roofs.

Read more: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/may/13/canyon-fire-del-norte-high-nighthawk/

---

These are very upscale San Diego neighborhoods.

[2naSalit]

1. Goodness

I remember when there were hardly any homes and ranches out there. Used to be really nice drive. Hasn't seen wildfire in a long time either. Hope all stay safe and get their horses out of there... lots of horses out there.

[niyad]

2. that is definitely not good news, knowing how dry that whole area is.

[Bee_stung]

3. Blustering wind when I hiked this morning

Heard the sirens, didn't see smoke (and I did have panoramic hilltop view). Right now, stillness. A bee's fart would make more for a breeze. I haven't heard any structures that were burnt. 800 acre brush fire doesn't constitute 'national' news. I'm sure if it were in yours or mine - neighborhood the news would be pushed on the 3rd page of the local section in 'tomorrow's' paper. Being such luxuriant dwellings near this area, the insurance payoff perhaps would have generated some jobs (reconstructing). Damn, heartless... huh.

Just wait until that old WPA built, and henceforth, neglected dam right above them gives way. Can't pay a cent more in taxes to keep that intact (snark). Was even leaky walking through there when I was a kid in the 80's.

shame...

[stuffmatters]

4. Prisoners in Orange fighting the .001%'s brushfires

They just showed it on NBC local 5 o'clock news. Even Mark Mullin asked for clarification of the sweeping visual & their blithe stringer's
voice over of the effort in RSF: "and over on that hill in orange are the prisoners" ...

Prisoners saving mansions...disaster capitalism on the local level.

[Bee_stung]

5. suitable time for the gods of banking

to cash out on an overinflated underwater mortgage packages.
and gerrymander insurance rate hikes out to all the unsuspecting little people neighborhoods to pay for it.

[link:|

[UpInArms]

6. welcome to DU, Bee_stung!

[Brother Buzz]

7. You do know ALL dams (public and private) in the state of California are inspected and certified?

I have never seen a dam that didn't leak or weep, but that doesn't mean it isn't structurally sound.