San Diego Fires - Political Forum

HenryDavidThoreau · 10-23-2007, 12:24 PM

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Hundreds of thousands of Californians sought shelter today at friends and relatives' homes, community centers, schools, fairgrounds and stadiums as out-of-control wildfires raged from Los Angeles to the Mexican border.

About a dozen separate fires have burned more than 700 homes and charred 245,957 acres, officials said.
At least 300,000 people had been told to leave their homes, and more evacuations were expected.

As many as 10,000 evacuees packed into the Qalcomm Stadium in San Diego, anxiously watching local news on the stadium's huge TVs for updates on their neighborhoods.

Many evacuees, fleeing along with their friends and neighbors, were unsure where to go for shelter.

Wanda Tomkinson, 79, checked into the Doubletree in Del Mar for safety. But she and her husband and their Boston terrier had to decamp when the hotel was evacuated.

Tompkinson said they hoped a family friend would be able to take them in. If not, she said, "the Lord'll take care of us."

The fires, fed by gale-force Santa Ana winds sweeping in from the desert, have claimed one life, in San Diego County, and injured at least 42 people. Among the injured were 16 firefighters.

President Bush declared a federal emergency for seven counties, a move that will speed disaster-relief efforts.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the California National Guard to make 1,500 Guardsmen available to support firefighting efforts.

At Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, about 40 aircraft that included F-18 fighter jets, C-130 cargo planes and Marine helicopters were evacuated to other bases in California and Arizona.

Public schools were closed. Classes were canceled at the University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University and at Pepperdine University's Malibu campus. Students were urged to remain indoors to avoid exposure to smoke.

As flames neared the Malibu area, many celebrities were forced to leave their homes. TMZ.com reported Oscar-winning "Titanic" director James Cameron and singer Olivia Newton-John were evacuated.

The fires were also threatening the newly renovated bed and breakfast owned by former "Beverly Hills 90210" star Tori Spelling and her husband, Dean McDermott. The inn, Chateau La Rue, is located about 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

300,000 flee Southern California fires

I am a resident of San Diego, California. There are currently 13 wildfires from Malibu to the Mexican boarder. San Diego is surrounded by more than 8.

panteth4h2o · 10-23-2007, 01:02 PM

Man, that's wild. Heck, I was just barely getting over the wild fires in Greece. Now this?

I was just reading how the fires were supposedly making their way towards Magic Mountain them park. How did all this stuff start? Arson?

HenryDavidThoreau · 10-23-2007, 01:11 PM

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Originally Posted by panteth4h2o

Man, that's wild. Heck, I was just barely getting over the wild fires in Greece. Now this?

I was just reading how the fires were supposedly making their way towards Magic Mountain them park. How did all this stuff start? Arson?

The first started by electric lines that fell down into dry brush and the others came from embers that flew in 70mph winds or their own causes. I doubt arson. The humidity is in the single digits and wind speeds are incredible.

apawllo · 10-23-2007, 09:30 PM

Yeah, these things happen in Southern California just like hurricanes in the Atlantic and tornadoes in the midwest. Apparently the circumstances under which this fire started were perfect for it to thrive. As was mentioned the embers are being blown around by winds at extremely high speeds and the entire region is ridiculously dry. One of the news channels mentioned that these things are likely going to increase in frequency over the next century and not much can be done about it due to climate changes and such.

Wheeldog · 10-24-2007, 03:18 AM

Wild fires are increasingly threatening human settlements. This is due, in part, to the fact that people are building homes in areas where there is extensive woodlands or natural bush cover. As cities and suburbs spawl out into these natural areas they become vulnerable to fires that periodically sweep through the vegetation. As I watched the fire scenes on t.v. I was struck by how many homes have been built on steep slopes and ridge tops surrounded by fast burning desert vegetation. These areas have always been subject to hot, dry desert winds. The abnormally dry weather has turned the trees and brush into tinder. It only takes a single spark to ignite a runaway wild fire driven by the winds. What I find amazing is that anyone is actually surprised by the inevitible results.

micfranklin · 10-24-2007, 12:43 PM

I'm sure everyone's heard about it by now, San Diego and a lot of areas in Southern California are under siege from fires. While it's completely ridiculous and somewhat heartbreaking, I can't say I'm surprised. Southern CA is dry and some of it is desert, and dry areas are more vulnerable to fire.

micfranklin · 10-24-2007, 01:41 PM

Wildfires happen in the western States every few years or so because it's so dry there, especially in the southern parts of California, but this is just incredible.

Although it might be a good thing for the environment because some species of plants only grow by catching on fire.

FRYandBENDER · 10-24-2007, 01:56 PM

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Calif. wildfire losses top $1 billion

By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer 7 minutes ago

SAN DIEGO - The devastating wildfires in Southern California have caused at least $1 billion in damage in San Diego County alone, officials said Wednesday, as easing wind gave firefighters hope that they could begin to gain ground against the flames.

Calif. wildfire losses top $1 billion - Yahoo! News

Wow. I hope they can get a handle on this soon. 1 billion is a big check to write.

Diligent_d · 10-24-2007, 03:04 PM

What a disaster. I'm glad though that more people weren't hurt or killed - seems like they pulled off the evacuation rather seamlessly.

The sad thing is that I've heard some righties claiming it could have been Al Qaeda that started the fires.

HenryDavidThoreau · 10-24-2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diligent_d

What a disaster. I'm glad though that more people weren't hurt or killed - seems like they pulled off the evacuation rather seamlessly.

The sad thing is that I've heard some righties claiming it could have been Al Qaeda that started the fires.

Apparently some on the left believe blackwater to be the cause

Btw why was my thread moved from breaking news and re-named?