San Diego residents: Check in if you are ok

[Elspeth]

I am on the coast and smell lots of smoke. It's 8:07 and I've got KOGO on. (It's a right wing rag of a station, but they have a public service function for emergencies like now.)

[itsrobert]

1. I'm in Murphy Canyon area

Isn't the fire out East?

[Elspeth]

2. Yes, but the smoke is blowing southwest.

How is Murphy Canyon?

[itsrobert]

4. Maybe a small, small smell of smoke

real minor. But if fire hits here, it could get nasty.

[Seabiscuit]

6. There's one near Campo that's burned 500 acres, and another near Ramona that's burned 5,000 acres.

I hope Julian isn't threated the way it was 4 years ago during the Cedar fire.

[begin_within]

3. We're fine here in Kensington, but it's a scary reminder of the Cedar Fire 4 years ago.

One fire is east of Ramona, the other east of Dulzura. Both are still out of control at last report.

[Elspeth]

8. I heard. The Romona one has burned 14,000 acres, and the other the same

updated on KUSI

[begin_within]

10. Then they're still growing. It reminds me of the Cedar Fire of October 2003.

That one was a cataclysm. I hope nothing like that ever happens again. I was coughing for 3 weeks afterwards.

[Elspeth]

13. I know. I remember that fire.

This one is supposed to be worse.

[Seabiscuit]

5. Carmel Valley checking in:

It's 8:11 p.m. now. The air has smelled of heavy smoke since about 3 p.m. White ash in the air. When I first noticed it in the back yard, the stench was so thick I thought there must be a fire on our street, so I rushed out front and couldn't see anything but grey-yellowish sky. Hasn't gotten any better since.

We're o.k. but we're stuck indoors.

[Elspeth]

7. I have friends up your way

I heard that Del Mar was just unbreathable.

[Elspeth]

48. Much of Carmel Valley has been evacuated

Are you ok?

[Seabiscuit]

61. Yes, we're OK, thank you.

Strangely, the sky above us is blue, despite dark yellowish-brown clouds to the north, and yellowish clouds to the south.

Just got word that ocean air is now pushing eastward and keeping the fires in Poway, Rancho Bernardo, east Escondido, San Marcos, Elfin Forest, and eastern Rancho Santa Fe from progressing westward towards the coast.

We live just 3 miles in from the ocean, about 2 miles east of Del Mar.

My wife's parents from San Elijo have been here since this morning since both the San Marcos and Elfin Forest fires forced San Elijo to evacuate. We're getting ready to pack the cars and head to L.A. to stay with my wife's cousin just in case.

[Elspeth]

86. Good to know.

Thanks for keeping in touch. I am putting some things together just in case.

[Seabiscuit]

100. Update: there are two fires just 6-7 miles from our house.

We drove east of Carmel Valley on Carmel Valley Road and saw a fire on a big hill to the northeast. We continued to Camino Del Sur, took a left going north, then took a left on San Diegito Raod for about a half mile west. We found a lot of parked cars, so we parked and got out and up on the ridge just north of the road we could look down and see just northwest of us in the valley there was another line of fire about a half mile long, and the winds were very strong, and smoke from that line of fire kept shifting from westerly to southwesterly (aiming right at Carmel Valley). I'd say this is the northeastern edge of Fairbanks Ranch where that fire was burning.

So we're finishing packing and my wife and I will be staying up tonight following the news and alerts while her parents sleep. If we have to get out we'll get all of our things into our minivan, wake them and our 3-year old boy up and head north to L.A. We may have to take the coast road to Oceanside before being able to get onto the I-5 because the last we looked, the I-5 north was at a standstill near Del Mar Heights Road.

Where are you located? Are you still safe?

[Seabiscuit]

101. JUST GOT THE CALL FROM POLICE - MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR CARMEL VALLEY.

We're leaving. Good luck to all, and God speed - hope there's a San Diego to come back to by the end of the week.

[MikeH]

9. I first heard about the fire on the way back from a hike in Idyllwild

I was on a Sierra Club hike up to the Tahquitz Peak near Idyllwild today. On the way back one of my fellow hikers, who was a passenger in the car I was riding in, received a cell phone call notifying him of the fire, and the possible need to evacuate (he lives in the Ramona area). When we got back to San Diego, about 6:00, the sky was overcast with smoke, a few ashes were falling from the sky, and there was the definite smell of smoke.

I thought, oh no! A repeat of the Cedar fire in 2003.

I am in Mira Mesa right now, and I can smell the smoke in my apartment.

I have been listening to KPBS, the public radio station, which would normally be playing classical music at this time in the evening.

I am anxiously waiting to see what happens.

They say the weather forecast is that the Santa Ana winds will likely continue through Tuesday. Bad news. The fires would continue either until there is no more fuel or the winds die down. They are short of the fire-fighting reinforcements they need.

[KitchenWitch]

11. I am not in SD County, but I am near the Santiago Canyon fire that just started

We have watered our roof, I have gathered the important stuff in a box to throw in the back of the van if we have to evacuate.

The fire is about 3 miles from us. But the way the wind is blowing, one never knows.

[Elspeth]

12. They are telling everyone close to prepare for evacuation

You are wise. Please let us know what happens.

[YvonneCa]

14. Good luck to you...

...and yours. I hope everything will be okay.

[Elspeth]

94. Thank you.

We'll just keep this thread updated.

[cascadiance]

15. I live in Mira Mesa just next to the Sorrento Valley canyons...

... but I suspect that the military won't let anything get started before they snuff it out here being this close to the airbase. Hoping that the fires in Ramona don't head directly west into Poway and Rancho Bernardo where I work and have relatives, but that doesn't look to be at risk just yet.

[Elspeth]

22. This thing is moving fast though

The winds are amazingly fast tonight. I am watching footage on KUSI

[Name removed]

16. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[begin_within]

17. They are saying the Santa Ana conditions are supposed to remain until Wednesday.

Usually the winds die down somewhat at night, but still 30 mph in Potrero, 15% humidity, temps predicted for tomorrow 80 to 90 in those areas. Not good news for the firefighters. These fires are going to burn until the winds stop or the fires run out of fuel. Sorry to say that anyone who lives along Highway 78 or along Highway 94 is pretty much in deep shit for the next couple of days.

[Elspeth]

19. Very scary about the damned winds.

It's frustrating.

[cherokeeprogressive]

23. And it's been happening since before humans populated the southwest coast of North America. n/t

[haele]

18. We're near downtown -

It's smokey and cold, and I'm a bit worried about the birds and an elderly cat with respiratory issues, but other than that, much better than 4 years ago when we lived accross the street from Lindo Lake in Lakeside during the Ceder fire. Ash was coming down like snow.

Haele

[Elspeth]

20. Hey, ash made it out to the coast from the Cedar fire too.

It looked like nuclear winter out here.

[Elspeth]

21. Governor has just declared a State of Emergency for Southern CA, from LA to SD

and spots in between.

[begin_within]

24. Entire town of Ramona now being evacuated.

2 firefighters from Harris fire near Potrero are in ICU, one has been put into induced coma.

[cascadiance]

25. They've now moved from Poway High School to Mira Mesa HS for evacuation...

Only a block or two away from I live now in Mira Mesa on Reagan Road is where they are going to move people now from Poway High School.

I think I'm going to stay up some tonight to make sure that it doesn't try to push through Poway to Rancho Bernardo where my folks live and my job is. If it does I may need to take a hike up there!

[SoCalDem]

26. check this link for road closures before you go ANYWHERE

http://calfire.blogspot.com/

[Elspeth]

49. Thanks, socaldem.

How are things where you are?

[begin_within]

27. That's pretty scary, when an evacuation center itself has to be evacuated!

[cascadiance]

30. I'm starting to get concerned about where my Mom and Dad are...

I don't think I'm going to make it to work up there today, but I want to make sure that the fire doesn't go south through Rancho Bernardo. It is hopping the highway 15 through Lake Hodges now and has closed Highway 15. Hoping that they can get some way of getting air support soon to keep it from getting any further around there.

I think I'm getting ready to travel up there shortly to help her in case she needs to evacuate.

[begin_within]

31. It's in Rancho Bernardo now.

[Elspeth]

41. They are evacuating Rancho Bernardo. Reverse 911 calls went to some sections of town

I've got CHannel 8 on at the moment.

[cascadiance]

50. I just got my mom and her valuables moved to my house in Mira Mesa...

It is getting pretty ugly there, though the wind seemed to being blown from the southeast to the Northwest where we were, and that might keep it away from us. But with the way the wind blowing changes, we wanted to make sure. It looks like what's west of the 15 to the north of Ted Williams Parkway is more at risk at the moment with it crossing the freeway.

[Elspeth]

54. That's the old Cedar Fire burn area

How is your house in Mira Mesa?

[cascadiance]

90. Actually this fire is probably closer to Rancho Bernardo than the old Cedar Fire was...

... It went a lot more to the south of Rancho Bernardo then. My Mom's house still seems "relatively" safe from the flames for now.

My office was only a block or two south of where you probably see all of the burned out homes reports just to the west of the 15 in Rancho Bernardo. Not sure when we'll be able to get back to work just yet if we do. Sounds like it still hasn't been hit just yet. If we do, a lot of our old "lunch" places will not be pretty sites to see (if they still exist).

Mira Mesa still feels relatively safe, though I'm a bit too close to Sorento Valley canyon for my tastes though, if a quickly lit fire rushes up the hillside there before any jets from Miramar could put it out. Hoping that no burning embers come too close here...

[Elspeth]

93. I just saw the FD choppers in the air on TV8 above Ramona.

Apparently, the winds out there are calming down enough.

[malaise]

28. Stay safe DUers

This is frightening.

[tjwash]

29. San Carlos....at 5am the smell of smoke is everywhere.

Down at the airport it is just as strong as it was at my front door this morning at 4:00. I have to go to Phoenix today and fly back tonight, and am worried as hell. The last time I smelled smoke like this without actually seeing flames was before the Cedar fire. It's by Ramona now, and that is the absolute worst spot for a fire, as it is central in the county at that point and has all the fuel it needs to turn into a monster fire.

I told the wife this morning to keep her cell phone handy, and to take the charger with her before she leaves for work.

[begin_within]

32. It's eerily reminiscent of the Cedar fire.

We can't actually see any flames or colums of smoke from our house (in Kensington) but we can smell the bitter smoke smell in the air anyway - like it's lurking somewhere around, but not in any specific direction. Not as strong as with the Cedar Fire though - I coughed for 3 weeks after that fire.

[MindPilot]

33. North Park here

We are OK of course protected by urban density. I just talked to a co-worker who evac'd at about 04:30 this morning. He is currently in Del Mar & told me it was a really rough ride with lots of downed trees blocking the roads.

Mayor Sanders just ordered Qualcom stadium opened as an evac shelter. We've offered a few of our friends our home if they need to get out.

[Theres-a]

34. Stay safe. nt

[begin_within]

35. Huge areas now being evacuated including Rancho Santa Fe, the most expensive

neighborhood in the United States - this means Janet Jackson, Jewel, Rick Aguilera, Joseph Coors, Jim Lampley, Phil Mickelson, David Wells and tons of other wealthy people, famous and not famous, have to evacuate (if they happen to be at their homes in Rancho Santa Fe). Also Rancho Peñasquitos, Carmel Valley, everything west of I-15, between the 56 and Del Dios Highway is being evacuated.

[Elspeth]

44. Just called a friend out that way

They have relatives in Hillcrest, thank god, but they are worried about losing their house.

[MindPilot]

36. Mayor Sanders is asking everyone to stay home.

If you are not under an evacualtion order.

[Elspeth]

37. Even the local university (UCSD) is shut down

EVeryone stay home

[Elspeth]

95. It will be shut down for tomorrow too.

Poor air quality.

[MindPilot]

38. It's errie in my neighborhood

like the eye of the storm or something. The sky is clear and winds calm. There is a light dusting of ash on the cars, a faint smell of smoke in the air and just touch of firelight.

[Elspeth]

40. Where are you mindpilot?

I just watched some homes in Rancho Bernardo go up in flames on TV

[MindPilot]

42. I'm in North Park. Did you say you're in Kensington?

Just went outside; we have some ash in the air now--I think the winds are shifting south.

[Elspeth]

43. I am on the coast.

Northpark is not all that far away.

[Irishonly]

39. Stay Safe

I live east of LA and am not affected. I just wanted to say stay as safe as you can and everyone is thinking of you.

[Elspeth]

45. Appreciate it.

I'm watching homes burned to the ground in Rancho Bernardo. CBS affiliate in San Diego. I feel like crying.

[tjwash]

46. Flew in to Phoenix on business this morning, and had 5 messages on my cell phone when I landed

My folks are getting evacuated in RB, and Scripps Ranch and Poway is looking pretty perilous as well. I called from the airport, canceled my appointments, and am going right back home now.

[Elspeth]

47. Are they going to Qualcomm or Del Mar?

Please be safe. My prayers are with your parents.

[MindPilot]

51. A co-worker called me from Oceanside

He was in Del Mar earlier and said the air quality was almost intolerable. O-side however is clear, sunny & calm.

[Elspeth]

52. Good to hear. I have my light mask from Home Depot which I am wearing outside

The air quality on the coast is just awful

[tjwash]

62. Hoping they show up here at my house.

I told them to just come over, don't bother calling

[Elspeth]

64. I hope they come right there.

I wonder if we'll all be evacuated when it's all over.

[tjwash]

68. They are evacuating some of the evacuation centers.

They have Santana High in Santee set up as an evacuation center, put the fire is creeping toward Lakeside, and Santee is just east of there.

[Elspeth]

80. Scipps Ranch evacuating

.....

[tjwash]

99. The folks and the nephews just showed up at our house a few minutes ago.

The inlaws are in a hotel, they just checked in as well. Whew...

We are in the process of getting rooms ready for overnights now, as we have some friends coming over as well that got evacuated. Someone was nice enough to put us up 3 years ago when we got evacuated in the cedar fire, and now it's our turn to do the same.

[FreeState]

53. North Park canyon overlooking Mission Valley

all okay here - going to spray the canyon just incase after work...

[Elspeth]

55. Glad to hear it.

Keep in touch.

[nadinbrzezinski]

56. Coast... so we are fine

but one of the three birds IS freaked...

Poor kid...

And if the fire got here... we would loose most of the city

[Elspeth]

57. No kidding. I am on the coast too.

One local reporter (Larry Himmel) just lost his house. It's so sad. He is reporting from his own house on Channel 8.

[nadinbrzezinski]

58. Well he is one of the few good guys in the media

have KOGO on... and they said this morning that the fire may go all the way to the coast

So stay safe

And by the way... this city will need some rebuliding after this

[Elspeth]

59. It may go all the way to the coast?

I am trying to figure out how to get out of here.

[nadinbrzezinski]

60. That's what was said during the presser this morning

found it interesting

If it does... this will be even worst than anybody thinks

[Elspeth]

63. Where are you going if you get evacuated?

I am considering a flight out if necessary

[nadinbrzezinski]

65. Don't know, since I have to evac three birds too....

Frankly I don't think it will get here... where I am... in the valley...

Now if I was in Mira Mesa... that is a whole different proposition

[Elspeth]

66. I hope you are right

If Qualcomm is still an evacuation site, then we are still ok.

[Elspeth]

67. Qualcomm stadium: evacuees need food, water

I was thinking about going down there, but I wondered if I would just get in the way. I'm checking with my church to see if they are involved.

[halobeam]

69. just your subject line, made my stomach drop.

no need I'm sure as to explain why.

This BETTER be handled the right way, I don't think this country can take another major clusterfuck. Nature is one thing, effective planning and execution of the plans is a whole other ball of wax.

This is so sad. The whole damn thing.

[Elspeth]

73. I know.

Right now, all local pols are kissing Schwarzeneggar's ass even though there is still no Federal State of Emergency.

[piesRsquare]

75. The clusterfuck started when Schwarzenegger got into office

Schwarzefukker's campaign focused on his promise to "crush the car tax". Well, he did.

Problem is, the stupid fucks that voted for Ahnuld didn't do their homework (of course), so they didn't know that the bulk of car tax funds get distributed to cities and towns to pay for police, EMS, and FIRE SERVICES!

This was mentioned during the 2003 fires, which happened after the bastard took office following the recall election and slashed car taxes. Of course, no one pressed him on the issue, and he dodged the question. ASSHOLE!!!

:grr: :grr: :grr: :nuke: :nuke: :grr: :grr: :grr: :nuke: :nuke: :grr: :grr: :grr: :nuke: :nuke: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[Elspeth]

81. Thanks for the reminder. Governor D'uh is just a tool

......

[tjwash]

70. Un. Fucking. Believable. I just saw 2 news choppers fly by our house...

...while they were simultaneously broadcasting on the radio about how it is impossible to launch firefighting aircraft. We went through this bullshit in the cedar fire already.

[Elspeth]

72. That is really infuriating. Why can the news choppers get up and NOT the firefighters?

What is going on here? Are they letting this burn?

[kineneb]

82. has to do with where and how many CDF planes are available

CDF is the only organization with the airborn equipment to fight wildfires.
Remember, they have to have fire retardant, pilots, and a good runway. If the winds are too high, they can't fly. Also, the fires make their own weather which causes flying difficulties.

I bow before the CDF ("CalFire" how tacky). They try to keep us safe, while putting their lives on the line. May they do their job well, and safely.

[tjwash]

71. The governater is in El Cajon giving his speech.

We are getting a 800 national guard troops to assist in evacuation.

[Elspeth]

74. "We need rain and we need the wind to stop." (Governor D'uh speaks.)

We're getting 800 troops for evacuation and crowd control. But where are the firefighters?

[Theres-a]

77. Crowd control

:scared:

[tjwash]

83. De fires...dey are hot and dey burn things. The vind makes dem bigger...

:eyes:

That guy makes my fucking head hurt...

[Elspeth]

84. Yeah, but you made me laugh. Thanks

:)

[Stinky The Clown]

76. My brother's in Tierrasanta. When I spoke to him he said the winds were eerily calm

I spoke to him about 8 am PDT. He had just gotten back from scouting around and had been out to the 15. The winds, he said, were calm, but they were getting some drifting ash and he could smell the smoke. That big fire you guys had a few years ago got within a few hundred yards of his house. he's thinking maybe that was their test and they'll get off easy this time.

[maveric]

78. At work in Chula and all is ok for now. Can smell smoke BIG TIME!

My wife is safe at home in Ocean beach. Luckily for us the fires never get that far west.

[silverweb]

79. Everything's covered in ash here.

I'm practically sitting on the border less than a mile from the ocean. No actual fires here, but it's been very windy and there's a layer of fine gray ash covering everything, inside and out. Everything smells and tastes like smoke, too.

My thoughts and best wishes to all of you in endangered areas!

[Tektonik]

85. Checking in from University CIty

Everything's a ok here except for all the smoke that's blowing here from the offshore winds

[Elspeth]

87. Thanks for the update!

It helps to keep track

[rinsd]

88. In North Park now.

Kick for fellow San Diegans who are hopefully safe.

[FreeState]

89. Getting windy here (North Park)

I just drove from Hillcrest to South Park, via North Park and its getting fairly windy here. There was almost no wind this morning...

[rinsd]

91. I had a light coat of ash on my car this morning in Ocean Beach.

But the wind has picked up here.

[Elspeth]

92. Which way is it blowing?

East or West?

[FreeState]

96. South West and

about every which way also... its short burst mostly south west but not all of them...

[Elspeth]

98. That doesn't bode well for those of us living in apartments in the beach areas

Anybody in Ocean Beach?

[maveric]

97. I'm in OB too and experienced the same.

My job is in Chula Vista and all day the sky was filled with smoke and ash.
Its not too bad in OB right now.