Please pray for all of us here in San Diego

You are still in my thought and prayers. Thanks for the update and stay safe. Please post the address of where to send clothes and stuff.

Stay safe.

I read on the petconnection.com blog this morning that Petco is based in San Diego and is doing a lot to help fire victim's pets donation wise. And on Petco's website this morning they have a link for donations to help the pets involved.

Oh man Del Mar. I used to vacation there every summer with my family. This is all so sad.

I feel so terrible for eveyone out there. I was watching it on the news yesterday morning and it made me so sad to think of people losing their homes. I immediatly said a prayer for everyone and will continue to do so.

I don't understand..how do these fires just randomly start!? I know its hot and not humid with no rain..but spontaneous combustion?? I don't get it

My friend in SD was not evacuated and they say he won't have to now, so thats good. I heard on the news this morning that the wind had slowed down too.

STAY SAFE!

Sending vibes that everyone stays as safe as possible, and that the fires clear up soon.

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

I don't understand..how do these fires just randomly start!?

I know its hot and not humid with no rain..but spontaneous combustion?? I don't get it

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I've been thinking about that too. I thought I heard that one fire started when a car caught fire. Someone correct me if I'm wrong about that. I don't remember hearing anything else being said about why. I guess it could be a lot of things.

I know a few years ago we had a field fire here they determined was from someone throwing a still lit cigarette from their car window when they drove past. I see people do that all the time, but we're not in an area prone to forest fires like that.

As far as I've heard, my step-sister is doing fine out there. She's not one to say much at times so she's at home still as far as I know.

Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles

I've been thinking about that too. I thought I heard that one fire started when a car caught fire. Someone correct me if I'm wrong about that. I don't remember hearing anything else being said about why. I guess it could be a lot of things.

Click to expand...

So far nothing has been said regarding the cause of any of the fires. I think they are just trying to get a handle on the situation before they start looking for the cause. The only thing I heard was a fire started on Monday near the Wild Animal Park because a trasformer blew. Other than that there have been no coments.

Some updates, Ramona still has no water, if someone is in the area tries to go in to the area to check on their home they are told if they do try the faucets to NOT use the waer, boiling will not take care of the problems in the water. Many people are starting to be alowed in to their homes again. The list is large. Basicly today is much better, the smoke is still strong but the fires are starting to be contained and evacuations are being lifted. Hopefully things will continue to improve. The largest problem is the winds have shifted and are now blowing back inland from the water so all the smoke that was blown out over the ocean is now turning around and coming back to us.

For more info the best news channel, that is the most comprehensive is NBC. They have compiled all the info. You can click on any of the links and get up to the date info and maps. Here is the link
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/index.html

I am also including the stats from their site, there are a lot so this is long.

Firestorm Figures Updated Wed. 11:45 a.m.

Overall County Totals:
- Almost 300,000 acres burned
- 560,000 total number of people evacuated
- 50,000 have been able to return home
- 6 deaths related to the fires have been reported by the Medical Examiner.
- One is a "direct" fire death(Tecate).
- More than 1,350 structures destroyed

Witch Creek, Rice Canyon and Harris Fires destroyed:
- 686 single family homes
- 170 mobile homes
- 4 commercial buildings
- 194 accessory buildings
- 20,000 avocado trees
- 393 automobiles

Estimates on cost:
- Just the homes damaged will be over $1 billion

Harris Fire:
- 73,000 acres burned
- Suppression costs are at $2.5 million
- 200 homes destroyed
- 250 damaged
- 2,500 structures threatened (2,000 homes, 500 commercial properties)
- 5 firefighters, 20 civilians injured
- 759 firefighters assigned
- Fire threatening structures along HWY 94 from Jamul to the east and
Jamacha to the west.

Witch Creek Fire:
- 196, 420 acres burned
- 10 percent contained
- Supression costs are at $2.3 million
- Evacuation orders still in place
- 12 firefighters, two civilians injured
- 1,841 firefighters assigned
- 645 structures destroyed (500 homes, 100 commercial properties, 50
outbuildings destroyed)
- Damaged: 250 structures, 75 commercial properties, 50 outbuildings
- Fire threatens the communities of Julian and Pine Hills
- Burned: Lyons Peak

Rice Fire:
- 7,500 acres
- 15 percent contained
- Cost to fight this fire is $585,000
- 1 firefighter injured
- 500 structures destroyed
- 30 structures damaged
- De Luz and Fallbrook are evacuated, 400 structures in these areas are
threatened
- Red Flag conditions during daylight hours

Poomacha Fire:
- 25,000 acres
- 0 percent contained
- 659 firefighters assigned
- Cost to fight this fire is $350,000
- 8 injuries (all firefighters)
- 2,000 structures threatened, one destroyed
- Fire started in a structure at 3:13 a.m. Tuesday
- Fire increased in size due to extreme fire behavior, lack of resources and
high winds

Here is an interactive map.
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=...!101&encType=1

Now for help. For people that live ouside the region the Red Cross has asked that monetary donations be made through their site.

"NEWS FROM RED CROSS: MONETARY DONATIONS: In order to provide the fastest and most effective assistance to those affectefd by the SD Wildrfires, The American Red Cross requests individuals make a monetary donation at www.sdarc.org/donate. Designate option2-San Diego/Imperial Counties Local Disaster Fund for your donation. Another option is to mail your donation to: American Red Cross, 3950 Calle Fortunada, San Diego, CA, 92123."

For helping animals I have yet to find an adress to the shelters. I think though it is pretty safe bet that any shelter will take donations of food. As soon as I get some info on where to send donations I will post it.

Most things being talked about when it comes to donations is for local residents. I will see what I can find for those of you who live out of state and want to help.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. We still need them.

My prayers are with you. My brother in law is in the army and he is leaving Friday for 21 days to help in San Diego and his sister lives there so I hope everyone and their families and pets stay safe.

I don't know if anyone is interested in the Los Angeles area of the fire, but one of the fires here in Los Angeles county was deliberate arson. I believe it's the fire in Malibu.

While fighting either the Witch Fire or the Harris Fire, they found electrical wires that had been brought down by the high winds. They were tentatively blaming one of those fires on the downed wires. I believe the Poomacha Fire started October 23 as a structure fire on the Lajolla Indian Reservation. (At 7:20 am California time today, the Witch fire and the Poomacha fire merged into one fire.) The Rosa Fire near Temecula was started by arson. I believe these are the only ones out of 22 or so fires that they have a clue about how they were started. Here's a link to the California Fire Incident Status Page: http://www.fire.ca.gov/

My mom lives real close to the Santiago Canyon fires and the housing track behind her was evacuated last nite and my mom says she can see flames from her backyard so I'm real worried about them.

Here is live streaming video from San Diego's Channel 10.
Depending on your ISP, it take a minute to load so be patient.

http://www.10news.com/video/14036255/index.html

Vibes for all who have been affected by this tragedy.

Sending vibes for all of those in San Diego in our community.
I have family there and I'm so worried.
Please stay safe.

Just got off the phone with my sister. She says it no longer looks like she's in immediate danger of evacuation (Mira Mesa) because the winds have died down considerably and the humidity has gone up from 5% to nearly 18%. She still doesn't know when she can return to work because her workplace is in an evacuation area. She's thinking about volunteering at Qualcom Stadium Evacuation Center (apparently they need nurses) which is a big deal for her because she suffers from anxiety disorder. I did my duty and donated through Red Cross. My heart goes out to all of the displaced people.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n3401265.shtml

Santiago Canyon Fire is being officially declared an arson fire.

Oh No!
There is a sicko out there.