San Diego Fires ‘07
Mon, Oct 22, 2007
by Geoff Young
This is way off topic, and I’m normally a “show must go on” kind of guy, but now that these fires are being called the worst in California history, I feel compelled to post links to the sources I’m following:
- Breaking news on wildfires (U-T)
- Cat Dirt Sez
- Firestorm 2007 Resource Guide (KNSD)
- San Diego Journal
- Witch Creek Fire (And Still I Persist)
All is well at Chez Ducksnorts for now, but we’re ready to move if needed. Stay safe, folks…
[Tip o' the Ducksnorts cap to San Diego Blog.]
More resources/how to help:
- kpbsnews @ Twitter
- nateritter @ Twitter
- San Diego Wildfires: How You Can Help (DiscoverSD)
- Harris/Witch Fire Help Page (San Diego/Imperial Counties American Red Cross)
Images/video, etc.:
Picking up where last year's version left off, the Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual provides in-depth analysis of and commentary on the San Diego Padres. Get your copy today.
October 22, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Consistent updates also are located on my twitter feed where I’m covering the San Diego fires.
October 22, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Thanks, Nate. Much appreciated…
October 22, 2007 at 5:15 pm
thanks Geoff- im in Japan so its a bit hard to get info on whats happening on my house - the sites definitely help
October 22, 2007 at 5:53 pm
re 3: where at in Japan? I’m in Okinawa.
October 22, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Thanks for posting those, GY and friends. We’re all neighbors, so everybody keep safe out there. Don’t be like two of my friends who elected to stay in their houses, despite the evacuation orders. (One of whom quickly changed his mind when the flames came over the hill.)
October 22, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Man you got to really feal for the scripps ranch people who got hit in 03 and now 07
October 22, 2007 at 6:53 pm
hey james - im in tokyo - how do you like the world series coverage in japan???
and definitely good luck to everyone currently in the sd area.
October 22, 2007 at 7:03 pm
I haven’t followed the local coverage of it, but I’m sure it’s pretty extensive with Matsuzaka and Okajima playing.
I’m trying to keep up with the developments in San Diego. I got some friends in the voluntary evacuation sites and Camp Pendleton and MCAS Miramar.
October 23, 2007 at 12:33 am
I hear its 500+ homes lost in SD and Fallbrook is getting hit hard. I feel for everyone in SD. I live in Irvine and we are being threatened by a fire here as well only a few miles away. No homes have been lost yet, but the fire has spread over 16000 acres. Thoughts are with everyone who has been evacuated.
October 23, 2007 at 9:20 am
I hope your safe SDSU, I heard on the news that its now 1000+ homes, I hope all DS’ers are safe from the fire line.
October 23, 2007 at 10:47 am
Mandatory evacuations in a neighborhood quite near the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This is getting too close for comfort for my family in University City!
October 23, 2007 at 11:35 am
We’re on the edge of a voluntary zone. So far the reservoir protected us from the Harris fire, but I won’t say I’m comfortable. Gwynn, Hoffy, Black, Alderson, Tomko, David Wells… all have homes in evacuated areas. Kouz and Adrian are down at the Q helping keep spirits up. The Padres have offered Petco as an Evac center if necessary.
October 23, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Well, we were forced to evacuate from one of our homes and there’s another voluntary evacuation at our other home. The mandatory evac was in Jamul. The voluntary was in Spring Valley.
October 23, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Rich: Good to hear from you; thanks much for the update. Here’s hoping for favorable winds.
Richard: I was thinking of you when I saw the shots of Jamul last night. Glad to know you’re safe.
Hang tight, guys…
October 24, 2007 at 3:37 am
I read about this on another board…not sure if it can help anyone now, but I thought I should pass the info along anyway.
http://barricadegel.com/
October 24, 2007 at 8:45 am
My friend sent me pictures of David Justice’s house. Completely destroyed. Hope they can get this thing under control soon. Where are the water tanker planes?
October 24, 2007 at 9:11 am
16: The planes aren’t a cure-all. In many places the heat is so intense, the water or retardant evaporates before it can hit the fire. The winds and the updrafts make it very difficult to fly. When you see one of those tankers flying right above the smoke, that pilot is taking an enormous risk. The regular Santa Ana winds are rough enough, plus the superheated air from the fires hitting his plane like anti-aircraft fire, plus his engines are screaming for oxygen that’s being consumed by the fire, plus he’s flying uncomfortably close to stall speeds. They’re basically flying combat missions in planes that were not designed for combat.
October 24, 2007 at 2:59 pm
17: Thank god for those pilots having the balls and heart to take those risks. Air support is not a cure-all but without it the firefighters cant move from an initial attack stage to a containment or control stage.
October 24, 2007 at 5:03 pm
18: Agreed. My response was more to anyone who thinks that a lack of flying equipment or dedication was what allowed the fires to get so bad. Millions of acres of bone-dry fuel, a howling wind, no humidity, neighborhoods built right on top of canyons that act as natural draws, and not enough effort on preventative brush clearing. That’s why it happened.