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View Full Version : Ashes, ashes all fall down, Firewall in California



Sparrowhawk
10-26-03, 10:40 AM
Southern California,



A wildfire leaped through dense housing tracts in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains on Saturday, destroying more than 200 homes, threatening 1,000 others and forcing thousands of people to flee under a sky thick with smoke and tinged orange-red by flames.

Ashes are falling like crazy all around us, the air is thick with smoke, and the sky has an orange glow to it.


http://abclocal.go.com/images/kabc_102303_2fire.jpg

The two major fires have now merged.

One of my daughters was going to go with a group of church people to the mountains for the week-end, we wouldn't let her go, because of the fires and now those that went are being asked to evacuate the area. All electrical power is down in the area.

Don't know how it will affect us, the heat is causing down electrical power lines to shut down. Then they can't be clicked on, until, they are checked for breakage.

Two persons are dead so far, and the winds are beginning to stir up again, causing the fire to leap over neighborhoods.


Last night on our way back from dinner fire was raging all along the freeway, with its eerily glow. Not enough fire fighters around, several homes are burning without any firemen around to fight the fires.

Our streets are filled with ashes, falling like rain...



http://a.abclocal.go.com/images/102203_FIRES_MAP.jpg

CAS3
10-26-03, 11:28 AM
Cookie, I hope you and your women will be all right. Looks like its coming right at ya.
Thoughts and prayers,
Love ya all,
Collen

thedrifter
10-26-03, 11:49 AM
Cook You know My House is Always Open to You and Your Family.....Might be a little tight fitting....but we can handle.....


Prayers are with you....


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

Sparrowhawk
10-26-03, 12:11 PM
Is now stuck near Morpark, it seems the railroad traacks up ahead are on fire.

Called around and wife finally got through to someone and they were not aware of it.

Wife was worried, thank God for cell phones, daughter wasn't worried, said fires, small ones were all around them, power lines were on the track so, there's a two hour delay.

http://images.latimes.com/media/photo/2003-10/9964039.jpg

Amtrack usually dispatches buses to pick up their passengers, hope they do so soon. She doesn't seem to be in any danger.

Give them a bit more time, then will call nearest relative to pick her up. They are only about half an hour away we are two hours away.



http://images.latimes.com/media/photo/2003-10/9961155.jpg

Osotogary
10-26-03, 12:11 PM
My prayers and best wishes for all concerned are heading your way. I hope that you and yours do not have to re-locate. Be safe.
By the way. Have you spotted any redhead women firefighters?

I hope that last sentence wasn't in bad taste. It certainly wasn't meant to be that way. It's just my nervous humor in a very serious situation.

Gary(osotogary)

Sparrowhawk
10-26-03, 12:36 PM
But with the color of the fire I have to knock them down, remove their cover before I can tell if they are a redhead...

haven't found one yet.

LOl

Sister-in-law called, she lives in San Diego, said the Camp Pendelton fires have dropped ashes all over their home, no reported houses burning there.


Mira Mar air station has been shut down..
and evacuated.

lurchenstein
10-26-03, 12:54 PM
My prayers are also with you during this time. If I can be of service to you & your family, let me know. -Chris

Sparrowhawk
10-26-03, 03:04 PM
New fire has startred up near Pendelton.

My daughter is out of harms way....

train backed down into LA, and my other daughter picked her up, and a friend from her school is picking her up to take back to Santa Barabara. Phewww


Kids.....http://images.latimes.com/media/photo/2003-10/9960863.jpg

Sparrowhawk
10-26-03, 03:08 PM
http://images.latimes.com/media/photo/2003-10/9960876.jpg

http://images.latimes.com/media/photo/2003-10/9960977.jpg


http://images.latimes.com/media/photo/2003-10/9961014.jpg

Sparrowhawk
10-26-03, 03:17 PM
http://images.latimes.com/media/photo/2003-10/9961059.jpg



http://images.latimes.com/media/photo/2003-10/9964166.jpg


http://images.latimes.com/media/photo/2003-10/9964300.jpg

thedrifter
10-26-03, 04:37 PM
Cook glad to hear daughter is out of harms way........


Brush fires burning across county

By JEFF DILLON
SIGNONSANDIEGO
1:50 p.m. October 26, 2003

Firefighters struggled Sunday to limit death and destruction as three massive wildfires raged out of control across San Diego County, charring at least 98,000 acres and 100 structures and killing at least 10 people.

As the Cedar Fire burned an 80,000-acre path of destruction from Ramona to Clairemont Mesa and threatened densely populated San Diego neighborhoods, the 3,000-acre Paradise Fire sent thousands fleeing as it raged through the Valley Center area.

A third fire, dubbed the Mine Fire, had burned 15,000 acres in the Marron Valley area near the Mexican border and was spreading north toward Dulzura.

Authorities weren't sure where or whether they would be able to halt either blaze and were focused solely on trying to protect lives and property.

State and local officials declared a state of emergency for the region and were seeking federal assistance.

"This is a very significant disaster," County Supervisor Greg Cox said.

Ten people were confirmed dead from the fires, said Jennifer Thompson, investigator with San Diego County medical examiner. Details were not available.

Frustrated fire officials said they don't have enough people or equipment to deal with the blazes and have only two air tankers available.

Area residents were asked to stay off major roadways to leave them clear for emergency equipment. San Diego issued a call for all first- and second-watch officers to immediately report for duty.

Defying the efforts of thousands of firefighters, the Cedar Fire burned dozens of homes in rural areas and canyonside neighborhoods in Scripps Ranch and spread south and west into Tierrasanta and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

"This is a very fluid fire," San Diego Fire Chief Jeff Bowman said. "It changes with the wind direction and the wind is created by the fire itself."

The Paradise Fire also was spreading unchecked in the Valley Center area.

"We can't do anything to get around it," California Department of Forestry Division Chief Bill Clayton said. "We're trying to save every single house and every single life we can."

Residents in fire-threatened areas were urged to pack some emergency possessions in case officers came to their door or neighborhood – but not to call emergency officials for evacuation advice.

"If you feel like there's danger, you should leave," San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender said.

Residents were also urged to watch local television coverage or listen to the radio.


"It's very important that people do their very best to stay calm," San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy said.

A huge plume of smoke towered over much of the county, raining a thick layer of ash stretching to the Pacific Ocean.

County residents were urged to stay indoors, avoid strenuous physical activity, stay hydrated and to use air conditioning or air filters to reduce the affects of smoke.

"Take care of yourself," County Health Officer Dr. Nancy Bowen said.

The blazes erupted after days of "red flag" alerts that the weather was creating ideal conditions for wildfires. "It's hot, it's dry and it's windy: The bad things," said Lora Lowes of the California Department of Forestry.

Air traffic into San Diego's Lindbergh Field and other Southern California airports was held on the ground at originating airports after the FAA's Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Controle had to be evacuated as the Cedar Fire spread onto MCAS Miramar.

Valley Center was a scene of chaos as the Paradise Fire spread under a leaden sky. Some residents were forced to flee only minutes after receiving fire warnings from sheriff's deputies.

An evacuation center was set up at Valley Center Middle School – and then relocated to Valley Center High School when the fire drew near.

Goats, pigs and dogs roamed loose as some rural residents lead horses away.

Three people were found dead in the wake of the fire.

Two teenagers were found dead in their burned-out car off Station Road after it apparently went off the road as they were trying to flee.

Another woman was found in the ruins of her home on Yellow Brick Road.

The Cedar Fire, which began around midnight near Ramona and burned several homes in the region, spread southwest during the night and surprised Scripps Ranch residents around dawn, burning several canyonside homes.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Union-Tribune reporter Elizabeth Fitzsimons contributed to this report.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/fires/20031026-1350-sdfires.html

Sempers,

Roger
:marine:



http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/fires/images/scripps_ranch_brookview.jpg

A view from Brookview Lane in Scripps Ranch looking east.

Sparrowhawk
10-26-03, 04:59 PM
California wildfires have scorched more than 24,000 acres and about 1,700 people have left their homes in San Bernadino county east of Los Angeles. NBC's Jeanie Ohm has the latest.


http://www.msnbc.com/c/0/188/813/8x6/031025caliwildfire_01.jpg


http://www.msnbc.com/c/0/188/813/8x6/031025caliwildfire_04.jpg


http://www.msnbc.com/c/0/188/813/8x6/031025caliwildfire_06.jpg
Fighting flames from above
An air crane makes a water drop on the fireline during the Grand Prix Fire in Lytle Creek, Calif, on Friday

greybeard
10-26-03, 08:42 PM
I hope everyone out there is safe. I'm worried about some friends out there that I haven't heard from in a couple of days-I usually hear from them daily. Can anyone tell me if any of these areas are in danger?
Laguna Woods-Orange County.
Livermore.
Rancho Santa Margarita.
Camp Pendelton Marine Base houising.
Have any of these areas been evacuated? I have no idea as to the gorgraphical locations in regards to where the fires are.
Thanks

Sparrowhawk
10-26-03, 08:58 PM
California Wildfires at a Glance


CEDAR FIRE: (San Diego County)

Size: 100,000 acres.

Homes: About 260 destroyed.

Deaths: Nine.



Containment: 0 percent.

Start: Oct. 25 in eastern San Diego County.

Key facts: Extends to Scripps Ranch, Poway, Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, portions of Santee, Lakeside and Blossom Valley, Poway and Ramona. Air traffic nationwide was disrupted when the fire forced evacuation of a Federal Aviation Administration control center.

Personnel: More than 800 firefighters.

Suppression Cost: No data available.

Cause: Authorities believe a hunter set signal fire when he got lost.

---

DULZURA FIRE: (San Digeo County)

Size: 15,000 acres.

Homes: None destroyed.

Deaths: None.

Containment: 0 percent.

Start: Oct. 26 in southern San Diego County. Fire crossed the border into Mexico, but no structures were threatened in Tijuana.

Personnel: 300 firefighters.

Suppression costs: No data available.

Cause: Under investigation.

---

CAMP PENDLETON: (San Diego County)

Size: 4,695 acres.

Homes: None.

Deaths: None.

Containment: 67 percent.

Start: Oct. 21 on the base north of San Diego.

Key facts: Authorities are downplaying early reports that fire was ignited by live ammunition exercises on the base.

Personnel: 999 firefighters.

Suppression Cost: Not available.

Cause: Under investigation.

---

PARADISE FIRE: (San Diego County)

Size: At least 3,000 acres.

Homes: 36 destroyed.

Deaths: Two.

Containment: 0 percent.

Start: Oct. 26 in Valley Center area near Interstate 15.

Key facts: Valley View Casino evacuated.

Personnel: More than 500 firefighters.

Suppression costs: No data available.

Cause: Under investigation.

---

GRAND PRIX FIRE: (San Bernardino County)

Size: 35,000 acres.

Homes: 62 destroyed.

Deaths: None.

Containment: 23 percent.

Start: Oct. 21 near San Bernardino National Forest.

Key facts: Mandatory evacuations in Lytle Creek, Mount Baldy, Rialto and parts of Claremont, Upland and other foothill communities of the San Gabriel Mountains.

Personnel: 2,427 firefighters.

Suppression Cost: $6.5 million.

Cause: Arson.

---

OLD FIRE: (San Bernardino County)

Size: 15,000 acres.

Homes: 300 homes and 10 commercial buildings destroyed.

Deaths: Two.

Containment: 5 percent.

Start: Oct. 25 near San Bernardino National Forest.

Key facts: Evacuations in foothill areas of San Bernardino and mountain communities, including Crestline and Lake Arrowhead.

Personnel: 917 firefighters.

Suppression Cost: Unknown.

Cause: Under investigation, suspicious origin.

---

SIMI VALLEY: (Ventura County)

Size: 80,000 acres.

Homes: Six destroyed, eight damaged.

Deaths: None.

Containment: 0 percent.

Start: Oct. 25.

Key facts: Firefighters are trying to save Ronald Reagan Library. Voluntary evacuations for Moorpark.

Personnel: 599 firefighters.

Suppression Cost: $25,000.

Cause: Under investigation.

---

PIRU FIRE: (Ventura County)

Size: 1,300 acres.

Homes: None.

Deaths: None.

Containment: 85 percent.

Start: Oct. 23 west of Lake Piru in Ventura County.

Key facts: The fire in Los Padres National Forest is threatening the Sespe Wilderness and Sespe Condor sanctuary. There are no condors currently in the refuge. Voluntary evacuations in Piru and parts of Fillmore.

Personnel: 780 firefighters.

Suppression Cost: No data available.

Cause: Under investigation.

---

VERDALE FIRE: (Los Angeles County)

Size: 9,000 acres.

Homes: None.

Deaths: None.

Containment: 50 percent.

Start: Oct. 24 west of Santa Clarita in northern Los Angeles County.

Key facts: Voluntary evacuations for community of Val Verde Park and parts of Piru. Blaze sparked the Simi Valley fire.

Personnel: 500 firefighters.

Suppression Cost: $1.3 million.

Cause: Under investigation.

---

MOUNTAIN FIRE: (Riverside County)

Size: 1,000 acres.

Homes: Two damaged or destroyed.

Deaths: None.

Containment: 0 percent.

Start: Oct. 26 in southern Riverside County.

Key facts: Evacuations ordered for homes near Lake Skinner. Two civilian injuries.

Personnel: 250 firefighters.

Suppression Cost: No data available.

Cause: Under investigation.

---

Source: California Department of Forestry and local fire officials.

greybeard
10-26-03, 09:09 PM
Thanks-I'll check that out on a map.

NEWB
10-26-03, 10:52 PM
Sparrowhawk,
I am with Drifter, if you need somewhere, come on over here. We don't have much but what we have will be yours. Praying for you and your family.

Sparrowhawk
10-27-03, 11:48 AM
Gosh darn coputer was down overnight, and then this morning it was poor tech help at the Internet communications office. before I could get it up and running.

Woke up with clearer skies and less smoke and ashes in the air. Sneezing like crazy and everyone has a headache from breathing the ashes.

would like to get a hold of the three arson individuals that started the fire, wouldn't hesitate to tie them to a tree in the path of the fire, or dangle them from a line from a chopper and fly them through the thick smoke and fire untill they were well done.

14-17 people have already died in the fires and over 850 homes destroyed.

<hr>

Rog, NEWB and others thank you; appreciate your concerns and willing to help. We remain far removed from the fires, being affected mostly by the smoke and friends that have lost their homes, others that have been evacuated.

My niece and nephew were evacuated late last night from their San Diego home, still don't know if their home remains.




http://a799.g.akamai.net/3/799/388/a03218e7a43e31/www.msnbc.com/news/2053297.jpg

The Southern California wildfires threaten not only mountain towns but also subdivisions like this one in Simi Valley.

Sparrowhawk
10-27-03, 05:58 PM
http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2003/10/27/national/28fire.l.jpg

Raging wildfires destroyed 537 homes in San Diego County, 150 of them in the Scripps Ranch neighborhood.

http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2003/10/26/international/27fire_slide01.jpg

Firefighters battle flames in a San Diego County neighborhood. Major fires in Southern California had burned more than 300,000 acres by Sunday night, and left 13 people dead.

http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2003/10/27/national/wild.650.jpg
Smoke rising from the Simi Valley wildfire as it advanced towards Chatsworth, Calif.

Sparrowhawk
10-27-03, 06:01 PM
http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2003/10/26/national/27fire_slide10.jpg
A firefighter gazes at a wildfire as it burns along a San Diego County highway



http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2003/10/26/national/27fire_slide08.jpg
Families displaced by wildfires gathered in a hangar at San Bernardino International Airport.


http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2003/10/26/national/27fire_slide05.jpg
Flames burn a hillside on a Marine Corps base in San Diego County.

Sparrowhawk
10-28-03, 05:24 PM
Over 22,000 people, one road out.

TV crew reporting the news turned around and their news van had gone up in flames. Winds are whipping the fire, evry which way, they can't get a handle on it, one way or the other.

It's really, really bad. Exhausted fire fighters, can no longer protect homes, they are just letting them burn.....


http://lang.dailybulletin.com/socal/gallery/news/102503_gp_fire/1.jpg


http://lang.dailybulletin.com/socal/gallery/news/102503_gp_fire/4.jpg


http://lang.dailybulletin.com/socal/gallery/news/102503_gp_fire/17.jpg

thedrifter
10-28-03, 06:47 PM
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification Number: 20031028161627
Story by Sgt. Valerie A. Martinez



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Marine Corps Air Station Miramar personnel are working with San Diego County firefighters and thousands of personnel from across the west coast to contain and control fires that have broken out in Southern California counties, including their local areas adjacent to the air station.


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003102816190/$file/031027m5552m002lr.jpg

Fire engulfs dry brush along Air Station property east of Interstate 15, Oct. 26. The smoke and flames, which resulted from spreading wildfires in San Diego county, burned approximately 19,000 acres of brush near the Miramar Stables and flight line.
Photo by: Sgt. Valerie A. Martinez



http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20031028162639/$file/031027m5552m003lr.jpg

Station Marines work to defuel KC-130 aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueling Squadron 352, Oct. 26 as flames and smoke move in on the flight line. The fire, which burned along MCAS Miramar east of Interstate 15, began around 8:30 a.m. and was a result of spreading wild fires in San Diego county.
Photo by: Sgt. Valerie A. Martinez



http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20031028162951/$file/031027m5552m004lr.jpg

A horse is led to safety by its owner along Interstate 15, Oct. 26 as fire engulfs the Miramar Stables. Volunteers spent the morning evacuating the animals to a fenced-in softball field on the Air Station. The stables, which normally house 150 animals, have taken on an additional 70 during the aftermath of the fire. The San Diego county wildfires spread onto Air Station property and burned approximately 19,000 acres of brush.
Photo by: Sgt. Valerie A. Martinez

thedrifter
10-28-03, 06:49 PM
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20031028163129/$file/031027m5552m006lr.jpg

A fiery backdrop illuminates F/A-18 Hornets belonging to Marine (All Weather) Fighter Attack Squadron 242 as fire spread along the flight line Oct. 26. The fires, which burned across Air Station property east of Interstate 15, were a result of spreading wildfires in San Diego county. By 4 p.m., approximately 12,500 acres of brush burned on MCAS Miramar.
Photo by: Sgt. Valerie A. Martinez



http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20031028163323/$file/031027m5552m007lr.jpg

A fuel truck races through a row of Marine (All Weather) Fighter Attack Squadron 242 F/A-18 Hornets on the flight line Oct. 26 as fire and smoke threaten the Air Station. The fire burned Air Station property east of Interstate 15 and was a result of spreading wildfires in San Diego county.
Photo by: Sgt. Valerie A. Martinez

Sparrowhawk
10-28-03, 09:25 PM
Displaced people are all over the place, no room in any of the hotels in Southern California.

Had my next door neighbors niece, show up at his door late last night.

They had been looking for a place to stay since noon the day before.

He called her and left a message on her home phone and she was able to get that message. she called him, and he told her come here, stay here with him, and they were there early this morning when i woke up.


Its a real mess, many, many people are lost from each other, husbands, wives, children, all trying to find each other.

Many don't know if thier house survived, if their loved ones are alive or not.

I was able to locate a man's son, to get him to go get his father that was off a freeway offramp at the bottom of a mountain and they were united.

Its amazing how cell phones and email has made a such a difference in how peoplw have been able to locate each other.

Local news reporter was caught in a fire storm, earlier today. The news van was burning up and firemen had to visiable grabbed thme to get them out of harm's way. He was too shaken to continued, just broke down and cried, as did another newsreporter and the camera man.

This is truly a taste of the worst of times and the best of times in life.

Sparrowhawk
10-28-03, 09:25 PM
http://lang.dailybulletin.com/opinions/cartoon/archive/1003/28/gordon450.gif

Sparrowhawk
10-30-03, 07:35 AM
"There's Nothing We Can Do To Stop It"



http://www.msnbc.com/c/0/189/495/8x6/031029_fire_10.jpg


http://www.msnbc.com/c/0/189/495/8x6/031029_fire_08.jpg

http://www.msnbc.com/c/0/189/495/8x6/031029_fire_05.jpg

Sparrowhawk
10-30-03, 07:59 AM
http://www.msnbc.com/c/0/189/495/8x6/031029_fires_deer.jpg

http://www.msnbc.com/c/0/189/495/8x6/031029_fires_update1_03.jpg
In harm's way
Firefighter Shawn Entz of the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District leaps from a ridge after turning off a propane tank as a wildfire approaches in Descasno on Tuesday

http://www.msnbc.com/c/0/189/495/8x6/031029_fire_09.jpg

Lending a hand
Sandra Hester points to tea cups that her father had gotten in World War II as she and her daughter, Juliet Miller, hold hands while looking through the debris that was their home in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego on Tuesday.

Sparrowhawk
10-30-03, 08:01 AM
http://www.msnbc.com/c/0/189/495/8x6/031029_fire_06.jpg

Burned out
Don Danner takes a break from sorting through the remains of his burned-out home in Crest on Tuesday. The home, where he had lived since 1955, was among those lost in wildfires east of San Diego.

http://www.msnbc.com/c/0/189/495/8x6/031029_fire_07.jpg

Salvaged
Mike Maddock shows remains from his fireproof safe after recovering them from his destroyed mobile home in Crest.

thedrifter
10-31-03, 06:12 AM
Camp Pendleton firefighters work to contain Paradise fire
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 20031030195745
Story by Cpl. Jose L. Garcia



OAKVALE PARK, Calif.(Oct. 29, 2003) -- David Lee, Camp Pendleton firefighter, showers the scorching coals left from the Paradise fire that threatened Oakvale Park, Calif. residents Oct. 29, 2003. Twenty-two Camp Pendleton Firefighters assisted in battling the fire. The firemen worked 24-hour shifts. The Oakvale community was overwhelmed with the firemen in their efforts and victory over the Paradise fire.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003103020110/$file/smokefirelr.jpg

David Lee, Camp Pendleton firefighter, showers the scorching coals left from the Paradise, Calif. fire that threatened Oakvale Park residents Oct. 29, 2003. Twenty-two Camp Pendleton Firefighters assisted in battling the fire. The firemen worked 24-hour shifts. The Oakvale community was overwhelmed with the firemen in their efforts and victory over the Paradise fire. Photo by: Cpl. Jose L. Garcia

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/E0D36A2E9EFA5A3485256DD0000549D0?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

thedrifter
10-31-03, 06:13 AM
Fire fighting Marines save Miramar from possible death, destruction <br />
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar <br />
Story Identification Number: 20031030171157 <br />
Story by Cpl. James S. McGregor <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MARINE CORPS AIR...

thedrifter
10-31-03, 06:15 AM
Miramar Marines help fire evacuees <br />
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar <br />
Story Identification Number: 20031030173741 <br />
Story by Lance Cpl. Paul Leicht <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.(Oct. 30,...

thedrifter
10-31-03, 06:17 AM
San Diego area military housing untouched by fire
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification Number: 20031030173551
Story by Sgt. M.P. Shelato



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.(Oct. 30, 2003) -- As the 2003 San Diego Firestorm swept through Southern California, thousands of servicemembers and their families were disrupted from their weekly routine.

Several of the military families in off-station public-private venture and station housing in the Miramar area were evacuated Sunday, as the Cedar Fire rapidly approached their neighborhoods. In the days of the fiery inferno that followed, not one housing unit was lost.

Susan Johansen, housing manager here, said the Miramar Housing Office had not received any calls about fire problems in housing.

"The housing at Eucalyptus ridge and the Scripps Ranch area were closest to the fire," Johansen said. According to Johansen, as the fire was burning, residents of different housing areas were on standby for evacuation, depending on how close they were to the front lines of the fire. "Somehow, there was no damage reported to any of our housing units," Johansen said.

Air Force Master Sgt. Joe Araiza, San Diego area Air Force recruiter, was evacuated with his family from his home in Pomerado Terrace Sunday morning.

Araiza said he packed only a few necessary items as they left the wooded Scripps Ranch neighborhood.

"We weren't too worried about what was inside our house, but we said a prayer for the whole housing area when we were evacuated," said Araiza.

According to Araiza, many of the houses in his neighborhood had deployed family members.

"Before we left, we made sure our neighbors knew about the evacuation and were able to get out safely."

While the families were away from their houses, the fire surrounded the Pomerado Terrace housing area on all sides. Araiza's house was spared from the fire by only a few yards, where the Miramar Fire Department is credited with stopping the fire by "back-burning" the nearby wooded area.

Araiza said he was allowed to return to his house with his family at approximately 11 a.m. Tuesday, after spending two nights in a hotel, anxiously watching local and national news broadcasts and wondering if their home was burning.

"When we first drove down Pomerado (road,) we thought everything was going to be burnt," Araiza explained of the Scripps Ranch area. "But when we saw the green grass and trees as we pulled into housing, we knew we had a chance."

The only structural damage done at Pomerado Terrace was a badly burned wooden fence, which acted as a barrier to the fire only feet from the Araiza's home. Araiza said he and the other residents at Pomerado Terrace were fortunate not to lose water, electricity or other utilities.

Gunnery Sgt. John L. Richards, drill instructor, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, helped several of his neighbors put out a few minor fires directly behind his housing unit Tuesday. Richards and his neighbors used garden tools and borrowed garden hoses to snuff the final remnants of the firestorm, though he admitted most of the damage had already been done.

Richards, worn out from days spent watching the news, said he was happy to finally be back in his home with his family.

"The way the fire bracketed housing is amazing," he said. "I keep thinking we're lucky; all of us here are so lucky."


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20031030182853/$file/DSC_0125_small.jpg

A housing resident races into the wooded area behind the Pomerado Terrace housing area in Scripps Ranch at 3 p.m. Oct. 28. After being allowed to return to their homes, the public-private venture residents borrowed shovels and garden hoses to put out a few remaining fires. Photo by: Sgt. M. P. Shelato

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/C568DC799CF7083885256DCF007C21C5?opendocument

Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

thedrifter
11-02-03, 06:03 AM
Camp Pendleton fire contained
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 2003103118525
Story by Sgt. L.A. Salinas



MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Oct. 30, 2003) -- A brush fire that erupted aboard base, tore through military training areas and threatened off-base homeowners in De Luz was 100 percent contained Tuesday.

The Roblar II Fire, the first in what became a series of wildfires still scorching large swaths of the San Diego area early Wednesday, left the base and surrounding areas relatively unscathed compared with a devastating toll elsewhere.

As of Tuesday, the Roblar II Fire had burned 8,592 acres but had damaged no structures, according to Scott Simpson, a Camp Pendleton fire inspector.

"Seven firefighters were treated for minor injuries," Simpson said. "Two were treated for second-degree burns."

In contrast, fires elsewhere in San Diego County left 12 people dead, according to the Medical Examiner's Office of San Diego. The fires also destroyed 1,100 homes and blackened more than 375,000 acres, according to Adriana Uribe of the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.

The Roblar II Fire started in the Zulu Impact Area aboard base Oct. 21. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Like fires elsewhere in the region, the Roblar II Fire was fueled by parched brush, according to Simpson. Santa Ana winds pushed the fire back toward uninhabited areas of Camp Pendleton, helping firefighters make progress against roaring, erratic flames that kept them on their heels and constantly guessing.

Locally, a unified command was established with the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry, including strike teams from multiple agencies, to combat the fire on base.

The stepped-up response was needed to corral a fire that has chewed up an average of more than 1,100 acres daily.

"We had a brush fire break out, and it grew very large, very rapidly," Simpson said.

The fire's advance prompted a voluntary evacuation advisory issued to De Luz residents.

On base, firefighters made every effort to ensure the fire burned only uninhabited areas, said Ben Keasler, head of Environmental Planning Division for Environmental Security on Camp Pendleton.

"The overall priority of effort by all involved was the protection of life and property of both on- and off-base residents and tenant organizations," said Lt. Col. Tom Stent, deputy assistant chief of staff for Security and Emergency Services here.

"Given the focus, in concert with other existing fire breaks specifically positioned to protect housings and built-up areas ... base residents, tenants and employees and structures were never really threatened and were largely able to conduct their daily routine," Stent said.

A total of 1,346 emergency personnel responded to the fire from as far away as Nevada and Arizona.

"I'm really appreciative for all the these firefighters' hard work and many hours," said Maj. Gen. William G. Bowdon, base commanding general.

Firefighters faced dry brush in areas that haven't received measurable rainfall in months, according to Simpson. The area had not been burned since the late-80s, resulting in high fuel density.

Large plumes of smoke clouded the base as fierce winds blew through canyons and valleys, pushing the fire along.

The dry conditions and gusting Santa Anas created ideal wildfire conditions, Simpson said.

The fire burned wildlands in training areas well away from structures, he said.

Nonetheless, frontline firefighters needed help from above to keep the fire from spinning out of control.

"The steep and rugged terrain poses a significant challenge to firefighters," said Ralph Domaski, incident commander with Southern California Interagency Incident Command Team 2. "Aircraft will continue to play a key role in assisting firefighters on the ground."

The fire left not only populated areas untouched, it also spared sensitive habitat, according to Ben Keasler, the base's environmental planning division head.

"As of Wednesday afternoon, the fire does not appear to have impacted any endangered species management programs," Keasler said.

Eight helicopters and seven fixed-wing aircraft dropped fire retardant around De Luz Canyon to extinguish the flames closing in on neighboring communities.

"The success came from availability of our resources," Simpson said. "We have to work like a team to get these things put out."

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003103118710/$file/firemain01lr.jpg

Fire rages in De Luz, just north of Camp Pendleton, Calif. The fire started in the Zulu Impact Area on Oct. 21, 2003 and was contained Oct. 28. It scorched more than 8,500 acres. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Samuel Bard Valliere

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/E35916F6D986AC1685256DD0007ED6B9?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

thedrifter
11-02-03, 06:05 AM
De Luz residents wait out fickle Pendleton fire
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 20031031181526
Story by Sgt. L.A. Salinas



DE LUZ, Calif.(Oct. 23, 2003) -- Sue Mackenzie chose the area around De Luz to retire because "it is so gorgeous." On Oct. 23, she sat at the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Center, waiting on updates to see how far the fire was willing to push her out of that opinion.

Mackenzie is no stranger to the wrath of wildfires. She recalled a past fire that threatened her home. It was "very frightening, the worst day I had ever seen," she said.

Mackenzie was just one of hundreds of families in the De Luz community outside of Camp Pendleton watching as 100-foot-high flames raced up hillsides, devouring dry brush and tinder late last week.

But by early Sunday morning, De Luz residents weren't as bad off as some of their San Diego County neighbors. Many were ordered to evacuate as fires ravaged the region and claimed 12 lives as of Wensday, according to the Medical Examiners Office of San Diego.

The Camp Pendleton fire, sparked last week on a training range, so far has been less harmful sending only ash across area communities. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Mackenzie said she appreciated the Marines' quick response to battaling back the fire. She pinned her hopes of saving her home on the base's resolve to containing the flames.

"I have to say, all the neighbors support the Marines 100 percent," Mackenzie said. "This community is rock-solid behind Marines."

As she sat in the shelter, her husband toiled as a volunteer firefighter with De Luz Fire Department. His unit specializes in structure protection, in case the fire's thirst for more carnage spreads to surrounding buildings and homes.

Paul Crider has lived in De Luz for three years. His is a family home, passed from generation to generation for 56 years.

Firefighters parked a large red truck in his driveway and asked him if he wanted to voluntarily evacuate.

"I appreciate it, but I've got a hose," Crider told the firefighters. "If the fire gets close, I'll move my car and hose down the house."

Crider was confident the aging structure was safe from the approaching flames.

"I've got a tin roof and asbestos shingles, so I don't think there's much of a risk of the house burning down," he said.

Firefighters from the Cleveland National Forest know the fire's tempestuous nature. They routinely battle flames on the front lines and see it as an enemy and an ally.

"It's like a dragon that has a mind of its own," said Kevin Banderboom, firefighter with Engine 22, Cleveland National Forest. "No two fires are the same. When you look at pictures, it looks like a monster ? angry and hungry."

The firefighters use this "hunger" against the fire ? a process known as "back-burning," according to Banderboom. Dry brush is lit in a controlled environment to limit the fuel on which a fire feeds.

The technique gives the fire a dose of its own medicine, Banderboom explained, "a way to fight fire with fire."

Still, the fire often lived by its own mind. Sometimes it bent to the firefighters' will. Other times, it exploited every weakness.

The heat melted cell phones and cameras as embers popped from the fire, turning the green pants firefighters wear a brownish color.

"Fire is bipolar," said Josh Stark, firefighter with Engine 22. "One minute it's happy, creeping around. The next minute, evil."

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20031031182649/$file/firedeluz01lr.jpg

Michelle Martin, 35, of Reno, Nev. looks back as flames rage in Roblar Canyon Oct. 23, 2003. It would be four more days before the fire was contained. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Matt Hevezi

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/7AD3A911F600894885256DD0007FC1B9?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

thedrifter
11-02-03, 06:07 AM
Firefighters flee angry burning beast
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 2003103118046
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Matt Hevezi



MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Oct. 23, 2003) -- "Fire tornados."

That's how one firefighter described 100-foot-tall flames that roared up a canyon wall Oct. 23 and were "throwing trees through the air" like twigs. The flames forced firefighters from Camp Pendleton and elsewhere to drop their gear and "bug out" from their defensive position.

Teamed in a rough section of Roblar Canyon with crews from Arizona's Corona De Tucson station, firefighters from the School of Infantry Station narrowly escaped the typhoon of flames.

The fire consumed a brush-laden part of the base "that hasn't burned in years" and was "ripe" for just such a flash fire, said Pendleton firefighter Lt. Bruce Wathen, 38, of Temecula He said the sudden firestorm was no surprise.

"This is what we call extreme fire behavior," a soot-covered Wathen said just an hour after the flames raced through his team's sector.

Wathen said his men ? many of them former Marines ? instinctively knew they were in danger and dropped their gear in place to escape.

"That does not happen that often," he said. "When you have to drop your gear, you know it's serious.

"We fight fires aggressively, but provide for safety first," Wathen and his buddies chanted in unison, one of 10 standard fire orders they've memorized.

Reaching into one of the team's trucks, Wathen produced a plastic water bottle labeled with the fire order oath. He said the guiding words are the firefighters' version of a Marine's general orders while standing guard duty.

"This is the fire that they've always talked about happening," Wathen said as an overhead tanker buzzed on its way to dump another load of red slurry on live flames located on the backside of a steep ridgeline just 500 yards from where Wathen stood.


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003103118153/$file/firebeast01lr.jpg

Arizona firefighters Todd Cupell, 27, and Bill Hurley, 41, of Corona De Tucson, Ariz., were among the crews in Roblar Canyon when an intense firestorm passed through Oct. 23, 2003. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Matt Hevezi

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/3E16526F7C9D0FD785256DD0007E6A0D?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

thedrifter
11-03-03, 06:00 AM
Wolfpack train to track and attack fires
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification Number: 2003111194747
Story by Sgt. Richard J. Kulleck



MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Oct. 31, 2003) -- Miramar Marines are once again gearing up for battle, but this a battle like no other. The aggressor is fierce, fast and has plenty of fuel to power its attack. It has hit multiple locations with no remorse for the people, buildings or land it has killed or destroyed. Trying to negotiate or convince this enemy to stop is not an option. This is not one person or a group of people; this is an element of Mother Nature. It has struck the forests and plains of California before, but with the lack of precipitation the wildfires have become more powerful than San Diego firefighters are accustomed.

Requests from the National Interagency Fire Center, in Boise, Idaho, were sent to the Department of Defense for air support in order to help contain, control and extinguish wild land fires in the Southern California area.

With the heightened state of emergency, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld gave the approval for military support.

All military support to civil authorities falls under the command of U. S. Northern Command located in Colorado Springs, Colo. Homeland defense is the primary mission of the command established as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. However, according to a U.S. Northern Command news release, they also provide 'one-stop shopping' for military assistance to civil authorities in the event of disaster relief operations to include wild land fires.

Six military units from across the United States were called upon to help support the firefight. Six Marine CH-53 Super Stallions with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, also known as the Wolfpack, from MCAS Miramar were one of the units tasked with the assignment because they had the most assets available.

The CH-53 is designed for heavy-lift capabilities and was considered ideal for this joint operation due to the weight standards of the Bambi Buckets when fully loaded. The Bambi Bucket is a proven, helicopter-borne integrated firefighting system in service worldwide.

Three different types of buckets are being used -- one 1,340-gallon, two 900-gallon and three 660-gallon.

Additional buckets are being sent from MCAS Cherry Point, N.C.

"Now in order to fly with these agencies, NIFC and California Department of Forestry pilots need to complete a certain training regimen and there are certain people who need to give that training and then evaluate the pilots on their ability to drop water," said Capt. Robert J. Muckenthaler, Marine emergency planning liaison for Joint Task Force Wildland Fire Fighting, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing representative to Commander of JTF-WFF, Brig. Gen. John Iffland, Air National Guard.

"It is not just dropping water out of a bucket, it is all the coordination they have to go through with the people on the ground because the helicopters are supporting them," said Maj. Bill McCrindle, U.S. Air Force Advisor to the JTF-WFF, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs.

With a day and a half of accelerated training, 51 Marine pilots and 32 crew chiefs from different squadrons became class-certified giving them knowledge in command structure, communication, fire behavior and bucket tactics.

Only 16 pilots and crew chiefs from HMH-466 were able to put class knowledge to use at Case Springs, Camp Pendleton. They learned how to conduct drops, communicate and utilize the daisy chain method. Upon completing four runs, flight certification was granted to crews under CDF's requirements.

"Some of the difficulties we had were finding a good long final approach and trying to keep the bucket from swinging," said Cpl. Conrad Rodriguez, CH-53 crew chief and weapons and tactics instructor with the Wolfpack.

This is not the Wolfpack's first encounter with fighting fires from an aerial position. While stationed in Okinawa, Japan, the squadron had to conduct missions with Bambi buckets extinguishing range fires.

"They are familiar with the Bambi buckets but are not fully prepared for local areas because they need to know who to talk to when they get out to a wild land fire. In Okinawa they were not dropping in close proximity to structures and people, they were mostly doing work on range fires started by tracer rounds," said Muckenthaler.

Each helicopter, when assigned to an area to assist in fighting fires, will be equipped with a crew of five. Two crew chiefs, two pilots and a civilian Camp Pendleton firefighter will be working together to make each run a success.

Tasking comes from South Operations, Riverside, Calif., directing each helicopter to an incident commander working the different wildfires.

"Right now all of them will be working in the San Diego county area," said. Muckenthaler, "As long as something is burning in San Diego, those Marine helicopters will be utilized."

McCrindle added that the Wolfpack can be tasked anywhere as long as they are working under the JTF-WFF.

A true "force in readiness" and fully capable with the combination of Marine Corps and CDF training, the Wolfpack Marines were tasked with assisting firefighters with the Paradise Fire Nov. 1 beginning at 10:56 a.m.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003111195143/$file/wolfpack5_small.jpg

An MCAS Miramar CH-53 Super Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, the Wolfpack, makes a pass hitting their target, allowing them to complete their requirements for California Department of Forestry certification. Once certified, the pilots are authorized to provide air support to ground fire fighters as they fight wildfires. Photo by: Sgt. Richard J. Kulleck

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/B468FE71D7C870D285256DD200046021?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

thedrifter
11-03-03, 06:02 AM
Masked in smoke - Depot hits speed bump in wake of San Diego fires
Submitted by: MCRD San Diego
Story Identification Number: 20031031142451
Story by Master Sgt. Janice M. Hagar



MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif.(October 31, 2003) -- Three raging fires quickly burned their way across San Diego County Sunday creating a firestorm that, as of Wednesday, killed 12 people, destroyed nearly 1,200 homes and burned more than 315,000 acres. Although the firestorm's deadly flames did not reach Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, the impact felt here was immense in several ways.

As the largest fire burned westward, it headed towards heavily populated areas such as Tierrasanta, Scripps Ranch and Murphy Canyon. Marines, sailors, base civilian employees and their families watched news reports as the fire headed closer to their homes. Then suddenly, the unthinkable occurred as emergency officials began ordering residents to leave their homes immediately. Grabbing what valuable and sentimental items they could in the short amount of time they had to leave, service members and their families began searching for a temporary home where they could wait out the firestorm and hope their homes survived.

While other families waited at schools, shelters or the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium, service members had the Depot to turn to in their time of need. The billeting office opened the doors to the fire refugees who began drifting in. More than 140 Depot Marines, sailors, civilians and families were displaced due to the firestorm and more than 120 families from San Diego area bases were provided housing on the Depot.

Shawnie Francis and her family were told to evacuate their Eucalyptus Ridge housing area at 5 a.m. Sunday by police.

"The San Diego Police Department said to go to the Best Buy parking lot in El Cajon," said Francis, wife of a sailor based at the Point Loma Submarine Base. But families were told later they were not going to be able to remain there. Francis and her two children fled their home so quickly, she wasn't able to grab her purse. She turned to the Depot hoping for help with her predicament.

"We called and they said don't worry about the money right now," said Francis. The family headed to the Depot and found a temporary home and people who cared.

"They've been coming to our rooms to check on us and see if we need anything," said Francis. "They said we could stay as long as we needed a place to stay."

It wasn't long before the normally quiet bachelor enlisted quarters area was bustling with activity. The occasional sounds of loud stereos or TVs were replaced by barking dogs and laughing children playing in the courtyards.

"We had 230 adults and 210 children here," said Yolanda Robledo, director of billeting and housing. "We also had 19 dogs, seven cats, two birds, four fish, one lizard and two hamsters.

"We provided the families with cribs, fans, linens and towels, and we kept them up-to-date with news and information," said Robledo. "We also had our Cyber Space room open 24 hours a day so the families could contact spouses who were deployed, or other family members, to let them know they were okay."

The mess hall also opened its doors to the families and remained open an extra hour for each meal in order to accommodate Marines living in the barracks and families. The Recreation Center remained open until 11 p.m. so families could watch movies, bowl or play video games.

The firestorm had a major impact on training here as well. As families began pouring into the Depot, so did the intense smoke, ash and soot from the massive fires as gusty Santa Ana winds whipped through San Diego County. The Depot grounds were soon covered with black and gray soot as a smoky haze hung thick in the air. The air quality was deemed unhealthy by county officials and recruit training was limited.

No physical training could be conducted outside. Drill instructors could conduct drill outside, but recruits had to wear fitted surgical masks.

All Depot Marines, sailors and civilians were required to wear the masks if they were outdoors for longer than 20 minutes.

Some services aboard the Depot were reduced or closed as Marines, sailors and civilians were told to remain at home unless they were deemed essential personnel.

The firestorm also affected the arrival of new recruits. As the fire burned through Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Calif., a Federal Aviation Administration radar facility that monitors air traffic control in the area had to be evacuated.

Air traffic into the San Diego International Airport was reduced, and one airline diverted all San Diego-bound flights to Phoenix.

"Approximately 450 recruits were expected on Monday, but only 346 showed up," said Col. Joe Lance, assistant chief of staff for recruiting. "As of Tuesday, we were down 223 for the week, but we expect to have 569 on the Depot by the end of the week. This is not a typical situation, but the effect is not something we haven't seen before. We deal with 24 recruiting stations spread over the western half of the country, so we have to be flexible."

By Wednesday, the smoke started to clear and the Depot began to return to normal.

Most displaced families were allowed to return to their homes and only three families remained in billeting, including one MCAS Miramar family whose home was destroyed in the firestorm.

Fortunately, the San Diego military housing office had a house available for the family to move into Wednesday evening.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20031031143043/$file/MP1_lr.jpg

Lance Cpl. Aaron Card, military police officer, Provost Marshal's Office, stands watch at Gate 2, the Barnett Ave., entrance to the Depot. Card, along with many other Marines, wore a surgical mask Monday to protect against the thick smoke that polluted the air throughout the San Diego area after three major fires raged out of control Sunday. Photo by: Cpl. Ethan E. Rocke

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/06D74429728405B485256DD0006AA548?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger
:marine: