2,000 evacuate as fire ravages Pendleton

[thedrifter]

2,000 evacuate as fire ravages Pendleton
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Oct 14, 2008 6:59:21 EDT

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A wildfire that began on an explosives training range at Camp Pendleton forced the evacuation Monday of a military housing area and more than 1,400 homes near the Marine base, military and fire officials said.

The Juliet fire, named for the training range where it started, had grown to more than 3,000 acres by early Tuesday and was burning southwest on the base toward the city of Oceanside, said Yvette Urrea Moe, a spokeswoman for San Diego County Office of Emergency Services.

No containment was reported by 11 p.m. as the fire burned beyond the base and into residential neighborhoods nearby, said Oceanside police Sgt. Kelan Poorman.

About 2,000 people were evacuated by military police from houses threatened by the fire, said Marine Sgt. Michael Knight.

San Diego County’s reverse 911 telephone system notified some residents of the evacuation orders, while sheriff’s deputies went door to door to warn residents, Moe said.

Marine Sgt. Darhonda Rodela, a base spokeswoman, said the American Red Cross set up a shelter on the base for families affected by the fire. She did not know how many families were evacuated from a portion of the base’s San Luis Rey housing area.

Outside the base, evacuees were being sent to shelters set up at El Camino High School and Oceanside High School, said Jane McVey, a spokeswoman for the city of Oceanside.

It was not immediately clear how the fire started shortly after 3 p.m., but Marine spokesman 2nd Lt. Riley Whaling said it started in the training area. He did not know whether the range was being used at the time.

Military and other firefighting agencies conducted back-burning operations to steer the fire into the burn area of another fire that blazed on the base last week.

Horses kept in a stable on the base near where the fire was burning were turned loose after workers were forced by military police to evacuate.

“We have stray horses running down the middle of the road,” said Heather Gallaher. “The fire is basically right at the barn.”

A second unrelated fire was burning on the base in another training area, Whaling said. No buildings were threatened by that fire.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

CAMP PENDLETON: Pendleton firestorm forces thousands from homes

By MARK WALKER - Staff Writer

Updated at 11:34 p.m. CAMP PENDLETON ---- A fire of unknown origin erupted Monday afternoon and tore through dry brush along the southeastern portion of this giant military base, forcing thousands of military and civilian families from their homes within minutes of its discovery.

As midnight neared, fire officials hoped for light winds and offered no forecast for containing the county's third October firestorm in five years.

No injuries or deaths were reported and no homes were lost in the blaze dubbed the Juliet fire, which was first reported shortly after 3 p.m. in the base's San Luis Rey "Back Gate" area.

By late evening, it had grown to more than 2,000 acres and was being fought by hundreds of base, state, city and county fire crews.

Thick, choking columns of black smoke that were visible for dozens of miles around the base during the day gave way to orange flames burning through the night.

"It was phenomenally quick," base commander Col. James Seaton said. "It came out of nowhere and it moved so fast."

Firefighters rushed to prevent the flames and embers from burning any homes, in some cases dumping retardants on threatened structures. Some nonresidential structures on the base were damaged, officials said.

Most of the evacuees from outside the base came from Oceanside's Wilmont Ranch subdivision, the Pilgrim Creek Estates manufactured housing community and a large section of the south Morrow Hills neighborhood.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Seaton said the base was not conducting any live-fire training exercises in the area where the fire started. It was the base's second fire in less than a week; no evacuations were ordered in the first blaze.

Fire officials ordered the evacuation of 1,400 homes immediately adjacent to the base.

In addition, Marine Corps officials ordered an estimated 2,000 base residents to flee, most from the San Luis Rey and Serra Mesa neighborhoods, said Marine Lt. Riley Whaling.

A shelter set up at El Camino High School was the overnight home of dozens of evacuees from outside the base. Military families were sent to the base's Stuart Mesa Lincoln Military Housing office.

Flames were being fanned to the southwest by light, Santa Ana winds gusting at speeds of 25 mph and more.

In the upscale Arrowood housing development adjacent to the base, resident Steven Wyles said he was confident his home would not catch fire.

"But if it comes over the hill, and with this wind, it can move fast," he said. "It's in the hands of God now."

Arrowood resident Danielle Steele expressed a fear that carried echoes from the conflagrations that swept the county in 2003 and last year.

"Our houses are made of wood," Steele said. "They'll go up in flames and the wind is not helping."

Officials used the county's reverse 911 system to alert residents in the evacuation areas that their homes and lives were threatened.

Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood said he was pleased with the quick response to the blaze.

"We had plenty of resources out there and, of course, the air response made a huge difference," he said. "Everyone was working very hard to make sure no structures went down."

After it got dark and the aircraft were grounded for the night, commanders at Camp Pendleton and fire officials were concerned the winds would pick up.

Debbie Dala went to the evacuation center at El Camino High with her son, Nathan, and her yellow Labrador, Alex.

"And my husband's on the way, so as far as I'm concerned that's all I need," Dala said.

Before heading for her overnight shelter, Wilmont Ranch resident Joann Melemore loaded her SUV with her three children and the family dog before fleeing.

"I come from New York," she said. "I'm used to rain, not fires."

As in all wildfires, animals were under as much stress and threat as people.

On the base, a stable of horses kept in the Back Gate area was turned loose as military police moved through ordering people to clear out.

Barn coordinator Heather Gallaher said she didn't have enough trailers to transport all the horses.

"We have stray horses running down the middle of the road," Gallaher said. "The MPs did force us to leave some horses in the stable."

The fate of those animals was not immediately known.

A 1,600-acre range fire broke out at Camp Pendleton last week and was brought under control 24 hours later with no injuries or loss of life.

That blaze was battled by two "Superscooper" airplanes leased from the government of Quebec that can scoop ocean water in a sweeping pass and quickly drop it over active fire areas. Those planes were in the air for about four hours Monday before being grounded for the night.

San Diego County was under a "red flag" fire warning since 6 a.m. Monday because of the hot weather and Santa Ana wind conditions, the same kind of weather patterns that stoked the destructive 2003 and 2007 wildfires.

The winds are expected to subside Tuesday night. Temperatures will remain in the 70s and 80s, according to the National Weather Service.

The 2003 and 2007 wildfires destroyed more than 2,000 homes, causing billions of dollars in damage and claiming 26 lives.

Staff writers Craig Tenbrock, Paul Sisson, Colleen Mensching and Sarah Gordon contributed to this report. Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.

Fire Information

Camp Pendleton Juliet fire: 700 acres

Evacuation areas outside the base: More than 1,400 homes Wilmont Ranch, Pilgrim Creek manufactured home community, base housing and south Morrow Hill's Wilshire and Sleeping Indian roads, Indian Trail, Hidden Valley and Camino Baja Cero.

Evacuation areas inside the base: An estimated 2,000 people living in the Serra Mesa and San Luis Rey housing areas.

Firefighters: More than 250 from the base, state, city and county departments

Air resources: Two helicopters, two "Superscoopers" and other aircraft

Injuries: None as of 10 p.m.

Evacuees: 83 at El Camino High School as of 10 p.m.

Containment: No estimate for containment as of 10 p.m.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

CAMP PENDLETON: Pendleton firestorm forces thousands from homes

By MARK WALKER - Staff Writer

Updated at 8:00 a.m.

CAMP PENDLETON ---- Most Oceanside residents can return to the homes they were forced to flee from Monday after a fire of unknown origin erupted and tore through dry brush along the southeastern portion of this giant military base.

Although no word was available as of 6 a.m. as to how much of the 3,000-acre fire had been suppressed, Oceanside police Sgt. David Larson said most residents of Camp Pendleton's "back gate" area could return home. The exception, he said, was for residents of the Pilgrim Creek mobile home park, which is not yet open for the people to return.

Base officials said about 2,000 military personnel and their families were affected by the fire and the evacuation order has not been lifted for base residents.

The fire started in the Juliet area of the base. The cause is under investigation, but base officials said it was not caused by any type of military training. As of 6 a.m. the fire was 25 percent contained and fire suppression drops were scheduled to begin.

No injuries or deaths were reported and no homes were lost in the blaze dubbed the Juliet fire, which was first reported shortly after 3 p.m. in the base's San Luis Rey "Back Gate" area.

Camp Pendleton officials said employees are expected to come to work Tuesday morning, but warned that the San Luis Rey gate, also known as the "back gate," would remain closed.

School closures include the Libby, Del Rio and Reynolds elementary schools in Oceanside, district officials announced on their Web site Tuesday morning.

The fire was being fought by hundreds of base, state, city and county fire crews.

Thick, choking columns of black smoke that were visible for dozens of miles around the base during the day gave way to orange flames burning through the night.

"It was phenomenally quick," base commander Col. James Seaton said. "It came out of nowhere and it moved so fast."

Firefighters rushed to prevent the flames and embers from burning any homes, in some cases dumping retardants on threatened structures. Some nonresidential structures on the base were damaged, officials said.

Most of the evacuees from outside the base came from Oceanside's Wilmont Ranch subdivision, the Pilgrim Creek Estates manufactured housing community and a large section of the south Morrow Hills neighborhood.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Seaton said the base was not conducting any live-fire training exercises in the area where the fire started. It was the base's second fire in less than a week; no evacuations were ordered in the first blaze.

Fire officials ordered the evacuation of 1,400 homes immediately adjacent to the base.

In addition, Marine Corps officials ordered an estimated 2,000 base residents to flee, most from the San Luis Rey and Serra Mesa neighborhoods, said Marine Lt. Riley Whaling.

A shelter set up at El Camino High School was the overnight home of dozens of evacuees from outside the base. Military families were sent to the base's Stuart Mesa Lincoln Military Housing office.

Flames were being fanned to the southwest by light, Santa Ana winds gusting at speeds of 25 mph and more.

In the upscale Arrowood housing development adjacent to the base, resident Steven Wyles said he was confident his home would not catch fire.

"But if it comes over the hill, and with this wind, it can move fast," he said. "It's in the hands of God now."

Arrowood resident Danielle Steele expressed a fear that carried echoes from the conflagrations that swept the county in 2003 and last year.

"Our houses are made of wood," Steele said. "They'll go up in flames and the wind is not helping."

Officials used the county's reverse 911 system to alert residents in the evacuation areas that their homes and lives were threatened.

Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood said he was pleased with the quick response to the blaze.

"We had plenty of resources out there and, of course, the air response made a huge difference," he said. "Everyone was working very hard to make sure no structures went down."

After it got dark and the aircraft were grounded for the night, commanders at Camp Pendleton and fire officials were concerned the winds would pick up.

Debbie Dala went to the evacuation center at El Camino High with her son, Nathan, and her yellow Labrador, Alex.

"And my husband's on the way, so as far as I'm concerned that's all I need," Dala said.

Before heading for her overnight shelter, Wilmont Ranch resident Joann Melemore loaded her SUV with her three children and the family dog before fleeing.

"I come from New York," she said. "I'm used to rain, not fires."

As in all wildfires, animals were under as much stress and threat as people.

On the base, a stable of horses kept in the Back Gate area was turned loose as military police moved through ordering people to clear out.

Barn coordinator Heather Gallaher said she didn't have enough trailers to transport all the horses.

"We have stray horses running down the middle of the road," Gallaher said. "The MPs did force us to leave some horses in the stable."

The fate of those animals was not immediately known.

A 1,600-acre range fire broke out at Camp Pendleton last week and was brought under control 24 hours later with no injuries or loss of life.

That blaze was battled by two "Superscooper" airplanes leased from the government of Quebec that can scoop ocean water in a sweeping pass and quickly drop it over active fire areas. Those planes were in the air for about four hours Monday before being grounded for the night.

San Diego County was under a "red flag" fire warning since 6 a.m. Monday because of the hot weather and Santa Ana wind conditions, the same kind of weather patterns that stoked the destructive 2003 and 2007 wildfires.

The winds are expected to subside Tuesday night. Temperatures will remain in the 70s and 80s, according to the National Weather Service.

The 2003 and 2007 wildfires destroyed more than 2,000 homes, causing billions of dollars in damage and claiming 26 lives.

Staff writers Craig Tenbrock, Paul Sisson, Colleen Mensching and Sarah Gordon contributed to this report. Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.

Fire Information

Camp Pendleton Juliet fire: 700 acres

Evacuation areas outside the base: More than 1,400 homes Wilmont Ranch, Pilgrim Creek manufactured home community, base housing and south Morrow Hill's Wilshire and Sleeping Indian roads, Indian Trail, Hidden Valley and Camino Baja Cero.

Evacuation areas inside the base: An estimated 2,000 people living in the Serra Mesa and San Luis Rey housing areas.

Firefighters: More than 250 from the base, state, city and county departments

Air resources: Two helicopters, two "Superscoopers" and other aircraft

Injuries: None as of 10 p.m.

Evacuees: 83 at El Camino High School as of 10 p.m.

Containment: No estimate for containment as of 10 p.m.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

From the Los Angeles Times
3,600-acre Camp Pendleton fire nears containment
The fire was 60% contained by late afternoon Tuesday. Evacuations ceased, and no homes had burned.
By Tony Perry
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

6:36 AM PDT, October 15, 2008

CAMP PENDLETON — The Juliet fire at this sprawling base spread to 3,600 acres Tuesday, but no additional evacuations were ordered and no structures were damaged. By late afternoon, officials said the fire was 60% contained.

Although a cause had not been determined, officials ruled out any connection to training such as the use of artillery.

At the fire's height on Monday night, 2,000 people were evacuated from base housing and 2,000 from Oceanside neighborhoods adjacent to the southern boundary of the base. Also evacuated were about 200 people in the Fallbrook area.

No homes burned, but flames came within a few dozen yards of many. The home where the fire came the closest was that of Col. James Seaton, the base commander. Fire scorched the lawn in the backyard.

Seaton praised the work of firefighters and the presence of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft dropping water in halting the fire's advance.

"Had we not had the Super Scoopers and other air assets, we would have lost a lot of homes of Marines and sailors," he said.

As 350 firefighters worked to contain the fire Tuesday, officials moved to reassure 10,000 troops deployed to Iraq and elsewhere that their homes were safe. The news was spread through e-mails, phone calls, websites and a well-developed "family readiness" system that keeps troops from being distracted by problems at home.

"Their heads need to be in the game and not worrying about home," Seaton said.

A grass fire on base unconnected to the Juliet fire burned about 110 acres on the east side of Interstate 5 near the San Diego County-Orange County line. Thick smoke led the CHP to close the freeway briefly. By midafternoon, the blaze was 100% contained.

Meanwhile, in Campo, near the Mexican border, a predawn fire burned 200 acres and forced hundreds of families to evacuate. But by late afternoon, fire officials were predicting full containment overnight.

tony.perry@latimes.com

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Air tankers not ready to fight fires <br />
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Associated Press <br />
Monterey County Herald <br />
Article Last Updated:10/16/2008 01:42:24 AM PDT <br />
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