Major fires in San Diego

**ufcrusher** · 10-26-2003, 10:34 AM

There are MAJOR fires burning all around the San Diego region. Unfortunately, I am surrounded by them. Brainsmile is probably in the thick of them (Scripps Ranch has been evacuated). This is not fun.

Interstate 15 is closed from North of the 52.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/2582220/detail.html

**Mademoiselle NOBS** · 10-26-2003, 11:26 AM

Anyone know who's covering all the SoCal fires? I'm trying to keep track of them for the sake of all my SoCal friends, but everyone seems to be covering fires locally, and the local news only seems to report anything during regular news hours.

Being in the Newport/Santa Ana area I'm pretty much surrounded by all the fires as well. Last night the winds were so strong it not only carried tons of ash, but waves of heat coming from the fires. Basically, when the wind wasn't blowing on you outside it was fairly cool, but the moment the wind picked up it almost felt like opening the door of a warm oven. And the burning smell has been strong since yesterday afternoon.

**eSDee** · 10-26-2003, 11:53 AM

All the channels are interrupting regular programming to bring news about the fires. There are some pretty graphic images being shown which are pretty disturbing. Hopefully it will turn out well with no more loss of lives.

**eSDee** · 10-26-2003, 12:17 PM

I live pretty far from where the fires are(about 25 miles) but here in the downtown area it is dark and ominous. Here are a few pics that I took from my balcony:

http://www.sdlocals.com/images/sdfire/DSCF0033.JPG
http://www.sdlocals.com/images/sdfire/DSCF0034.JPG
http://www.sdlocals.com/images/sdfire/DSCF0035.JPG
http://www.sdlocals.com/images/sdfire/DSCF0036.JPG
http://www.sdlocals.com/images/sdfire/DSCF0037.JPG

**Dave_7** · 10-26-2003, 12:39 PM

Wild.

Dave.

**ufcrusher** · 10-26-2003, 01:11 PM

I went to get my lunch and could see flames clearly when I was coming back.

It is fairly un-nerving to see smoke plumes coming up from the ground all around you. The really stupid thing is that they are saying that the fires are X distance away and yet I can see that there are fires where they are not reporting them!

BTW, all of our cars had some Ash all over them. Additionally, the place that most of the stations are shooting from is less than 10 miles from my home.

**DankNstickY** · 10-26-2003, 01:39 PM

yea, there's a huge fire out in simi valley, i havent been watching the news at all so i dont know where the fires are. our house and everything is covered in ash, and we live about 20-30 miles from simi. smells bad and the sky is orange...

**Dave_7** · 10-26-2003, 01:47 PM

I hear there's flames at Convoy and the 52.

Dave.

**InfiniteNothing** · 10-26-2003, 02:09 PM

WOW! that's close. About 7 miles from me. I checked online and there are fires between the 52 and claremont mesa blv as far east as the 805. I know there are some fires along miramar rd which is close too. If anyone has a good recent map of the fire I'd apreciate it greatly. The san bernardino fire map would be nice too.

**Ladogaboy** · 10-26-2003, 02:44 PM

Yeah, this happens every couple of years where I'm from. It's pretty normal for me, but I haven't seen anything like this in SoCal until now. Either way, the winds are starting to pick up, so the firefighters are going to have their hands full.

**InfiniteNothing** · 10-26-2003, 02:55 PM

Lol. The Wb news station was evacuated so they are showing NBC. They'll be back soon.

**gear02** · 10-26-2003, 02:56 PM

Originally posted by eSDeeLoco
I live pretty far from where the fires are(about 25 miles) but here in the downtown area it is dark and ominous. Here are a few pics that I took from my balcony:

http://www.sdlocals.com/images/sdfire/DSCF0033.JPG
http://www.sdlocals.com/images/sdfire/DSCF0034.JPG
http://www.sdlocals.com/images/sdfire/DSCF0035.JPG
http://www.sdlocals.com/images/sdfire/DSCF0036.JPG
http://www.sdlocals.com/images/sdfire/DSCF0037.JPG

wow! What time did you take those pics?

Hope you're safe.

**RoniMan** · 10-26-2003, 03:04 PM

Originally posted by gear02

Hope you're safe.

hope everyone is safe

**brainsmile** · 10-26-2003, 04:24 PM

thanks for thinking of me UFCrusher. My house in scripps ranch closed escrow earlier this month so I'm no longer in that area. I'm near Santa Luz now so I'm ok for now but I see nothing but black smoke around me right now. It's very scary

**irwin** · 10-26-2003, 05:38 PM

from ucr

**appleseed** · 10-26-2003, 05:40 PM

d00d, like 500+ homes gone already in all these fires.

i really hope everyone makes it ok. this sucks.

**eSDee** · 10-26-2003, 06:20 PM

Originally posted by gear02

wow! What time did you take those pics?

Hope you're safe.

Thanks buddy. It was around 11 am when I took these pictures with a crappy digital camera. There is one image on TV right now that is stuck in my mind. The news was talking about this one car that caught on fire or something and 4 people were killed in it. Next image is a man laying on the ground weeping. They announced that two of his kids were in the car

Right now it seems like most of the freeways are closing up with exception of the 5 and most of the 8. It looks like a lot of people won't be going to work tomorrow.

**dbax791** · 10-26-2003, 06:23 PM

You guys stay safe - best wishes and prayers from AZ.

Fires are a nasty thing to deal with. Last year we had the worst in history - burned 1/8 the trees on my parent's summer property.

One was caused by some jackass out-of-work fireman who thought he could get temp work by setting a blaze. 300,000 acres later he got his wish (and a nice time w/Bubba in the slammer)

Another was caused by a lost hiker trying to signal a plane. Hello!?!? We live in Arizona! one discarded cigarrette will set the state on fire.

Does anyone know how the SD fires got started?

**DankNstickY** · 10-26-2003, 07:51 PM

rumor was that at least 1 was started on purpose. dont know if that was confirmed though.

**ufcrusher** · 10-26-2003, 08:23 PM

We have been on evacuation standby for a couple of hours now. The news stated that those in Poway and RB should consider a vouluntary evacuation.

They keep showing the flames a little bit away from our home but we have not gotten official notice that we have to evacuate, but have all of our stuff ready to go. I am just afraid that if we dont evacuate we will have a knock on the door at 4 am telling us that we have 2 minutes to get out of here. This is why we have everything either locked in our cars or within easy reach.

**Nija** · 10-26-2003, 09:16 PM

All I know is that out here in Torrance, it's smelled like fire all day, and it was really hard for me and the g/f to breath. I think we are about 60 miles away from the closest fires

**southpark12345** · 10-26-2003, 10:12 PM

I can't stop watching the news. I have a few friends that have been evacuated. They are freaking, because they have no information on their homes. This morning KFMB showed a father who just lost his family in their car that went up in flames.(SO SAD)

My work has already shut down for tomorrow. This is just crazy.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=e...es&tmpl=sl&e=1",750,580

**spigidygak** · 10-26-2003, 10:21 PM

Yeah, the big cedar one that got into scripps was started by a hunter that got lost and shot out a signal flare. But its been an interesting day for me. Had some friends come down for the weekend and had to figure out how they could get back home since the 15 was shut down and then the 163 had a small commuter plane crash right before the municipal airport there. One of my sister's co-workers has a house in scripps and still is not sure if his house is still there or not. Also mnf got moved to arizona. . . hello. . . Arizona Chargers? Hehe. I guess the good thing outta all of this is for the Tempe Arizona residents, that game will be free!

**eSDee** · 10-26-2003, 10:27 PM

Here's a pic one of my buddies just sent me:

**Thesifer** · 10-26-2003, 10:36 PM

So.. I was watching the news here in Chula Vista earlier... and heard one of the Anchor Ladies say " It looks as if San Diego has descended into Hell. " ... For some reason that seems like something that would be considered wrong for her to say.. but .. whatever.. Ex Girlfriends Place in Santee is horseshoed in by fire... and for some reason.. she isnt evacuating.. But I guess since she lives right near Santana.. and they are still using that as a evac center.. then I guess its ok for now ... Hard to breathe she says tho... Here in Chula (near the 805) .. We can see the fire in Otay... For some reason.. I think the Term that was deemed for this isnt that great "Firestorm 2003" ...

**tweeteresa** · 10-26-2003, 11:00 PM

Originally posted by Nija
All I know is that out here in Torrance, it's smelled like fire all day, and it was really hard for me and the g/f to breath. I think we are about 60 miles away from the closest fires

there was a fire in malibu. thats where all the smoked came from.

**ufcrusher** · 10-26-2003, 11:40 PM

Well after taking a ride to look at the actual fire (still just a few miles from my home) we decided that when the official evacuation order comes through we will leave. Everything is ready to go, but rather than be uncomfortable for the night, we will just stick it out. Of course we did several things differently, such as leaving a light on the front door so people know we are actually here (if they couldnt tell from the cars) but also I stuck a "Ring Doorbell" sign on the front door showing the few people who can never find the doorbell where its located. Right on the wall next the door, you imbeciles. Everything is packed into the cars or packed in bags ready to be taken to the cars. So we are ready to go. Probably not going to sleep too well, but we have a friend who says she will call if she gets evacuated and she lives closer to the fire.

BTW, during the ride, it was sort of surreal. Just walls of flames on the hill next to the road and directly in front of us. It was raining ash and I am wondering if our convertible top should be wet down for the night.