So Cal on fire

[Tyek]

By JACOB ADELMAN, Associated Press Writer

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Wildfires fanned by fierce desert winds threatened thousands of Southern California homes Monday, as firefighters struggled to combat the blazes that rapidly engulfed the region, killing one and forcing thousands to evacuate.

In many cases, crews couldn't begin to fight the fires because they were too busy rescuing residents who refused to leave, fire officials said.

"They didn't evacuate at all, or delayed until it was too late," said Bill Metcalf, chief of the North County Fire Protection District. "And those folks who are making those decisions are actually stripping fire resources."

About a dozen blazes erupted over the weekend, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and drought-parched land from the high desert to the Pacific Ocean. Things got worse Monday, when several new fires sprouted, adding to the 40,000 acres — or 62 square miles — that already have burned. The worst damage was in Malibu, where a church, homes and a castle were charred.

Firefighters acknowledged they were overwhelmed.

"You do not expect something to stretch our resources to this magnitude," Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Sam Padilla said. "To try and staff something this big, you cannot predict it."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency late Sunday in seven counties. One person died in a fire near San Diego, which burned more than 14,000 acres — or about 22 square miles — about 70 miles southeast of San Diego, just north of the Mexican border town of Tecate, California Department of Forestry spokesman Matt Streck said.

Four firefighters and at least 10 other people were hospitalized, Streck said. Some of the injured were hikers, and others may be illegal immigrants.

Twenty-five structures in the suburbs around Santa Clarita were destroyed, Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief Glenn Massey said. That blaze had burned about 25,000 acres.

Another blaze devoured more than 5,000 acres in northern San Diego County and forced the evacuation of the community of Ramona, which has a population of about 36,000.

Several structures were burned on the edge of town and sheriff's deputies called residents to alert them the fire was approaching the city, said San Diego sheriff's Lt. Phil Brust.

"The winds are up, it's very, very dangerous conditions," San Diego County spokeswoman Lesley Kirk said. "Fires are popping up all over the place."

Several new wildfires broke out in San Diego County early Monday, officials said, and at least seven blazes were active in the county. Kirk said fire crews were stretched thin and were anxiously awaiting reinforcements from other parts of the state.

A wildfire in Orange County that grew to 8,800 acres was believed to be arson, Orange County Fire Authority Lynnette Round spokeswoman said. It was 30 percent contained.

In Malibu, about 700 firefighters worked to protect hundreds of homes in several upscale communities nestled in the hills. About 1,500 people were evacuated and the blaze destroyed a church and several homes, one of them the landmark Castle Kashan, a stately fortress-like home with turrets and arched windows. Chunks of brick fell from the exterior of the burning building overlooking the coast.

No residents or firefighters were injured, Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman said.

The castle belonged to Lilly Lawrence, the daughter of a former Iranian oil minister. She said she was able to gather a few things before the fire engulfed her home, including some jewelry and memorabilia that included Elvis Presley's Army fatigues.

She didn't seem too worried about losing most of her belongings in the fire.

"My parents taught me not to allow my possessions to posses me," Lawrence told KABC-TV. "So, that's the story. The house is a house."

Winds carried embers across the Pacific Coast Highway, closing the popular road and setting fire to cars and trees in the parking lot of a shopping center where a supermarket, drug store and other shops were damaged.

"This fire is zero percent contained, which means we're at the mercy of the wind," acting Malibu Mayor Pamela Conley Ulich said.

In all, five homes and two commercial buildings had been confirmed lost throughout the Malibu area, Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman said. Nine more homes were damaged, he said.

The fire is expected to burn for another two to three days, he said. Until the blaze is extinguished, "there will literally be thousands of homes that will be threatened at one time or another," he said.

The fire may have been started by downed power lines, Capt. Mike Brown said.

"This is a conflagration we knew was going to come at some point," Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said at a Malibu press conference Sunday, noting Southern California's ongoing dry spell. "We were cruising for a bruising. We are very, very lucky as we stand here tonight that the damage has been as limited as it has been."

While it is not as bad as 2003 yet, more fires are popping up. Now Arrowhead is on fire. It was 1 acre at 8m and is over 120 acres at 9 am, my parents are about to get evacuated. The winds are continuing to blow badly and embers are spreading the fires. Thanks to all the firefighters, the areas surrounding my house were all on fire last night and those guys did an amazing job. I hope all the other So Cal people are safe.

[Tyek]

1 house in our neighborhood is on fire now. No others at this time, great website for the Arrowhead fires, updates frequently. http://www.rimoftheworld.net

[Ashur]

Ouch! Keep safe man!

[Tyek]

Here are some pictures.



House on fire in our neighborhood, thatg is as close as I can get



view from my window.

[Ashur]

So what does that UPS truck do in the botom picture if there's a package for a house and it's on fire?

Leave the package with a neighbor?

Put a "Pick this up at the UPS distribution center" fireproof message in the mailbox?

[Tyek]

Wildfires Rage in Southern Calif.

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Wildfires fanned by fierce desert winds forced the evacuations of nearly 250,000 people Monday in San Diego County, including hundreds who were being moved by school bus and ambulance from a hospital and nursing homes.

More than a dozen wildfires had engulfed Southern California, killing at least one person, injuring dozens more and threatening scores of structures.

The fires have burned about 100,000 acres in San Diego County, said county Supervisor Ron Roberts. "This is a major emergency," he said.

"We have more houses burning than we have people and engine companies to fight them," San Diego Fire Captain Lisa Blake said. "A lot of people are going to lose their homes today."

About a dozen blazes erupted over the weekend, feeding on drought-parched land from the high desert to the Pacific Ocean. One person was killed and several injured in a fire near the Mexican border, and dozens of structures have burned across the region.

Things got worse Monday, when new fires sprouted and others merged. Some of the worst damage was in Malibu, where a church, homes and a historic castle were destroyed.

All San Diego Police Department officers and off duty detectives were ordered to return to work to help with evacuations.

In many cases, crews couldn't begin to fight the fires because they were too busy rescuing residents who refused to leave, fire officials said.

"They didn't evacuate at all, or delayed until it was too late," said Bill Metcalf, chief of the North County Fire Protection District. "And those folks who are making those decisions are actually stripping fire resources."

One blaze devoured more than 5,000 acres in northern San Diego County and forced the evacuation of the community of Ramona, which has a population of about 36,000. Several structures were burned on the edge of town and sheriff's deputies called residents to alert them the fire was approaching the city, San Diego sheriff's Lt. Phil Brust said.

"The winds are up, it's very, very dangerous conditions," San Diego County spokeswoman Lesley Kirk said. "Fires are popping up all over the place."

My parents are on the way to our house, they live in the middle of all that smoke in the picture I posted. This is getting nasty. I think the 250,000 sounds high though.

[miir]

Some more pics Brenlo (EQ2 CR) posted...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brenlo/set ... 610147321/

[Tyek]

Those low hills in the picture I posted just caught on fire from embers of other fires.

[Bagar-]

"They didn't evacuate at all, or delayed until it was too late," said Bill Metcalf, chief of the North County Fire Protection District. "And those folks who are making those decisions are actually stripping fire resources."

Let the stupid fucks burn then.

[Winnow]

I hope everyone's OK but those pictures kind of look like your average smoggy day in California.

Wet down the roof of your house and everything else you can spray with a hose.

[Tyek]

2 more fires broke out around my house now. this is crazy.





More smog photos!

[Tyek]

[Morgrym]

Here's a crazy thought...

Leave before you are trapped. Soon, the only place to go will be to water...man is that going to be on massive charlie foxtrot.

[Fairweather Pure]

All those pics and not a single flame? The thread should be retitled "Sol Cal is Smokey".

[Tyek]

lol fairweather, In most those pictures that was as close as we were allowed. The car one, I was too lazy to walk the rest of the way to the fire.

Listening to the scanners online. They have people looting in the mountains. Just sad.

[Spang]

What are they stealing? Boulders?

[Tyek]

Arrowhead has some pretty upscale homes. Lots of celebrities have places around the lake and houses up to 17 million dollars. You get out a way from the lake and you get a less desireable group of people and some low low income housing.

Arnold has a house up there, Laura Schlesinger, Carson Daily, Jennifer Love Hewitt, she actually held my nephew at the grocery store when we were up there last time. I think Kurt Russell has a place. I met Eric La Salle, the ER guy, up there before as well.

[lmnt9]

Arrowhead has some pretty upscale homes. Lots of celebrities have places around the lake and houses up to 17 million dollars. You get out a way from the lake and you get a less desireable group of people and some low low income housing.

Arnold has a house up there, Laura Schlesinger, Carson Daily, Jennifer Love Hewitt, she actually held my nephew at the grocery store when we were up there last time. I think Kurt Russell has a place. I met Eric La Salle, the ER guy, up there before as well.

I'd let her hold my nephew any day! How was that?

[Sylvus]

Arrowhead has some pretty upscale homes. Lots of celebrities have places around the lake and houses up to 17 million dollars. You get out a way from the lake and you get a less desireable group of people and some low low income housing.

Arnold has a house up there, Laura Schlesinger, Carson Daily, Jennifer Love Hewitt, she actually held my nephew at the grocery store when we were up there last time. I think Kurt Russell has a place. I met Eric La Salle, the ER guy, up there before as well.

I'd let her hold my nephew any day! How was that?

Ooh, nice, a new euphemism!

"Say, would you like to hold my nephew?"

[Tyek]

We are safe here now, but my parents house is still in serious danger. We have been listening to the scanner and I am stunned by some people. They have caught a number of people looting, and just now, they called out an arrest of a guy that has been running around up there setting more side fires. They had a witness and tracked him down.

Hundreds of homes lost and resources stretched and he is running around areas without fires and starting new ones. He should spend the rest of his life in jail.

09:23 PM Source: scanner
they have him in custody at Los Flores Ranch just across from the Cedar Springs Dam
09:19 PM Source: scanner
Los Flores and 173 - one in custody; witnesses; Investigator 174 en route
09:08 PM Source: scanner
at Chipmunk and Cedarbrook - small spots, engine 26 can handle
09:07 PM Source: scanner
1/4 mile east of the camp (between where Camp Seely and the Dam); witnesses here that will probably want to give a statement; start an investigator; looked like he was trying to set another start; going to go check it out

[Winnow]

Im glad the smoke is blowing out to sea instead of toward Arizona!

[Tyek]

The wind blowing that way is the main reason the fires went crazy, that is the Santa Ana winds. Anyone heard if Noel is ok. 500K people evacuated from San Diego.

[Xouqoa]

The wind blowing that way is the main reason the fires went crazy, that is the Santa Ana winds. Anyone heard if Noel is ok. 500K people evacuated from San Diego.

Noel is good, I just talked to him on MSN. He said he's in no danger.

[Tyek]

glad to hear. Things are looking up in Arrowhead too. Fire has slowed. As much as I love my parents, not sure I would want them living here til they built a new house.

[Fash]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071025/D8SFUL0O0.html

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Federal agents joined the search for evidence Wednesday in brush-covered Orange County hills where an arsonist is believed to have ignited one of the wildfires devastating Southern California.

In San Bernardino County, a man suspected of starting a small fire was arrested and another man was shot to death by police after he fled officers who approached to see if he might be trying to set a fire.

Wildfires, burning in seven counties, had destroyed about 1,500 homes and caused more than a half-million people to flee since the first blaze began late Saturday. At least two - in Orange and Riverside counties - have been linked to arson.

Throughout the region, authorities stepped up patrols in hopes of preventing copycat fires and looting. In San Diego County, sheriff's officials have reported scattered instances of looting in fire zones. Two people have been arrested.

Orange County officials converged on a remote area of bone-dry brush where a 19,200-acre wildfire has destroyed nine homes. They were aided by special teams from the FBI and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The federal government planned to send more agents from around the country to help with the probe.

Investigators taped off an area they called a crime scene, took photos, collected evidence and recorded map coordinates, according to ATF Special Agent Susan Raichel. Authorities believe the fire had been set because they found three different ignition points within a short distance - a common sign of arson.

A $70,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.

In San Bernardino County, a motorcyclist who authorities say set a small fire in a rural foothill area of the San Bernardino Mountains has been booked for investigation of arson. Authorities said they didn't know if the man was connected to any of the 16 major wildfires burning in Southern California.

In the city of San Bernardino, police shot and killed a man who fled when officers approached to see if he might be trying to set a fire.

The man, whose name was not released, was shot Tuesday night following a chase that ended when he backed his car into a police cruiser and an officer opened fire, San Bernardino police said.

Why would someone do this?... sad.

[Ashur]

There's a lot of money in building homes...

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

I was wondering if all the people in Qual Comm are killing eachother, raping eachother, etc? Just curious.

[Canelek]

Think only a fraction of people went to public shelters--most booked hotel rooms or went to stay with friends/family. Also, I doubt thousands upon thousands of people were essentially abandoned without supplies. The great FEMA fuckup known as Katrina was a different animal altogether as far as disasters are concerned.

edit: Glad yall are ok down there. One of many things I do not miss from socal are the fucking santa ana winds.

[Tyek]

Over 500,000 people were evacuated at some point. Lots of smaller shelters, hotels and fairgrounds hosting people. There are still several fires raging uncontrolled. My parents have been told even if they don't lose their house it will be at least 1 week or more before they can return.

10,000 people were in Qualcomm.

As for the guy killed in San Bernardino, that is close to my house. Over 2 days we had 4 incidents break out in the same general area along these foothills. I wonder if this guy was doing it and finally got caught.

[Boogahz]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/31/fire.c ... index.html

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- A boy playing with matches started a Southern California wildfire that scorched more than 38,000 acres, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Tuesday.

The Buckweed Fire, which destroyed 21 homes on its rampage, began October 21 in the Agua Dulce community.

"Our arson explosive detectives, in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Fire Department investigators, immediately began their investigation, and during the course of the investigation, it led to a juvenile suspect," Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Tony Moore told CNN's "American Morning" Wednesday.

"After talking with that juvenile, he admitted to playing with matches, and accidentally starting the fire in that area," he said.

The boy, whose name and age were not given, is home with his parents, police said. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County district attorney for possible charges.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Buckweed Fire burned 38,526 acres.

Sixty-three structures, 21 of them homes, were destroyed, and three civilians and two firefighters were injured.

The sheriff's department said the fire forced the evacuation of about 15,000 people.

As of Tuesday, 18 of 23 wildfires in Southern California were completely under control, and the remainder were at least 70 percent contained, according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fires are blamed for 14 deaths and charred more than 508,000 acres, destroying about 1,600 homes.

Five people were arrested in arson probes last week, and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday vowed to "hunt down" people responsible for setting wildfires.

Authorities said Saturday they were following 1,700 tips about a white Ford F-150 pickup seen near the origin of the sprawling Santiago Fire in Orange County.

Witnesses reported seeing the 1998-2004 model truck with chrome tubular running boards on Santiago Canyon Road on October 21 at about the time the Santiago Fire started.

Authorities said last week they had found evidence at the scene, although they declined to describe it.

"If I were one of the people who started the fires, I would not sleep soundly right now, because we're right behind you," Schwarzenegger said, urging the culprits to turn themselves in.

[Sylvus]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/31/fire.c ... index.html

"If I were one of the people who started the fires, I would not sleep soundly right now, because we're right behind you," Schwarzenegger said, urging the culprits to turn themselves in.

Am I the only one who reads that and thinks

Matrix: Remember, Sully, when I promised to kill you last?
Sully: That's right, Matrix. You did.
Matrix: I lied.

or

Matrix: Let off some steam, Bennett.