Monday, October 22, 2007 at 12:46PM
Fire Updates

Everyone between the I-5 and I-15, and between the 56 freeway and Del Dios, are ordered to evacuate, including Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Fairbanks Ranch, Crosby Estates, Cielo, Carmel Valley, Santaluz, Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, Poway and Ramona.
More than 250,000 people are evacuating.
The official evacuation zone has been extended to include everyone living south of the 78 freeway, which includes Carlsbad, Encinitas, and half of San Marcos - mostly because of the smoke.

Channel 8 has the list of streets that have been burned:
They are reporting on the news that Ramona took a hit last night, Rancho Bernardo this morning, and the fire is heading for Rancho Santa Fe, and there's not much to stop it from burning all the way to the coast.
1:05pm - The Fallbrook fire just jumped the I-15 south of Mission Rd., next to Pala Mesa Golf Course.
From Bruce H. 's blog, hope you don't mind if I cut & paste:
Several new areas have been posted for immediate or likely near term evacuation. This includes Solana Beach. To me this is a bit of a surprise given that having a fire burn all the way to the coast is a rare event, and I am quite certain that this is mostly made out of the officials trying to be very cautious.

Also of interest is what could be considered the “Funnel” where Lake Hodges separates Escondido’s South Side from Rancho Bernardo’s North Side. For those not in San Diego county, the north end (inland) is very hilly and there are multiple canyons and gullies that can hold a fire while at the same time focus the wind to really burn hot and fast. At Lake Hodges there is a large flat valley that runs fairly much from the foothills almost to the sea. In the past this has been the cradle of some horrific fires (Harmony Grove) and it’s where the North part of the Witch Creek fire is burning now.
You have an abundance of fuel, a healthy gale and a hot fire. This is why you could (conceivably) see this fire burn as far west as Solana Beach.
Late word is the evacuation in Bear Valley area of Valley Center. This is where we extracted the horses from last night. Again, if you are going to bug out, bugging out early can sometimes be to your advantage.
for more pictures, click here: http://and-still-i-persist.com/
Larry Himmel of Channel 8 lost his home of 25 years, here is a YouTube video of him walking up to his house as it is fully-engulfed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNcg7uZhPvY
The Fallbrook Fire looks like it is really moving, judging by the smoke:
Here are 2 blogs about it:
http://hitsusa.com/blog/217/fallbrook-fire/
The Fallbrook wildfire is located roughly 75 km (47 miles) due north of San Diego. According to regional newspaper reports, the Fallbrook blaze has already consumed at least 40 structures, including a number of homes, and injured 11 people. High winds are fanning the flames toward Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base.
UPDATE (2:30 pm) : Evacuations are set for ALL of Fallbrook, residents are advised to leave town through the Camp Pendleton gates to the 5 Freeway, the evacuation point is San Clemente State Beach.
UPDATE (1:21 pm) : Fallbrook Hospital Urgent Care Unit is being evacuated.
A fire that broke out at approximately 4:10 a.m. in Rainbow this morning (Monday, October 22) has consumed over 120 acres and is still raging out of control. The fire has led to the closure of Interstate 15 and necessitated the evacuation of residents on both the east and west sides of the freeway.
“We just don’t have a lot of resources available; resources are spread very, very thin throughout the whole county,” said John Buchanan, public information officer for North County Fire. One civilian injury was reported as of 9 a.m. High winds and extremely dry condition have caused the situation to be very dangerous. Residents are asked to follow the direction of the emergency personnel, Buchanan said.
Evacuations are now in effect in Rainbow on Rice Canyon Road to Highway 76 and west to I-15 and on the west side of I-15 from East Mission Road to Pala Mesa Resort. Evacuations are going into effect for Old 395 to Yucca Rd, Tecolote Rd and Puerto De Mundo. The fire has jumped I-15 at Old Highway 395 and Reche Road, causing immediate threat to Valley Oaks Mobile Home Park. Residents east of Gird Road to Laketree Drive are currently scheduled for evacuation.
If you are given a few minutes to prepare for evacuation, gather a bag with a change of clothing, any medications you currently take, your passport and/or other form of identification, phone list, insurance policy (if easily accessible), and your pets.
Fallbrook High School has been set up as an evacuation center, 2400 S. Stage Coach Lane.
Other fires throughout the county include:
Coronado Hills Fire (San Marcos) - the communities of Coronado Hills and Discovery Hills in San Marcos. Residents evacuated to Escondido High School.
Witch Fire: Evacuation notices have gone out to Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve; Del Dios; Lake Hodges; in Poway at Espola Rd., Old Coach Rd., Heritage Rd. and Stage Coach Rd. Evacuation notification has been made for Poway in the area bordered by Pomerado on the west, Twin Peaks on the south and Espola on the north and east. Poway has established an evacuation center at Poway Civic Center.
Harris Fire: Notifications have been made to residents of Mother Grundy Truck Trail and Deer Horn Valley. Evacuees were directed to Steele Canyon High and some are expected to be sent to Santana High School in Santee.


Reader Comments (12)
Just heard that even parts of Leucadia are being evacuated.
There are 1000 firetrucks on their way here from Oregon and Nevada to help out.
The high winds are not allowing planes to drop water and firefighters to get in front of the flames.
This could get real ugly!
Also, very sad as Larry Himmel was on the channel 8 news crying as HIS home was burning to the ground.
Jim,
hope you are doing ok. A scary situation indeed.
Jim, love your web site as always. My heart goes out to all my friends who got burned out in RB and south Escondido today. I am photo blogging some of this as well at
http://and-still-i-persist.com/
Jim,
Thanks for the information. I'm actually heading to my folks right right to prepare the place for a group of friends and relatives evacuated from the area you mapped.
Irony: They were evacuating up to friends in Irvine, but that family is now being evacuated too!
There is a fire near where I live, but I was away for the weekend, so I'm heading back to see how my place is doing.
Interesting times...
Neil
thanks very much for this info. in losa angles county - we are not getting such detail. peace from kathy
Great source for info. I am out of state right now and really appreciate your site!
Here is a photo of the Old Winery and Lomas Verdes area of Poway.
Link
I have heard that at least one house on the edge of the development has burned down.
The photo is mistakenly labeled as Rancho Bernardo, but it is actually Poway. I know this because my house is located behind and to the left of the house that is shown.
Thanks for the source of infor. We have relatives in the Lake Hodges area and in several parts of Fallbrook. All have been evacuated, but we don't know what the status of their homes is. Our prayers are with everyone faced with this enormous tragedy.
Thanks for the website!! We arent getting any info up here. Lived in Fallbrook 25 years and now in North Idaho for 3 years. You have given such detail.
Thanks,
Diane
Does anyone know if Rancho Penasquitos is still under a mandatory evacuation?
Does anyone know anything about SantaLuz near Rancho Santa Fe? I would like to know if the fire has gone that way. Thanks so much!!!
I have a friend who works at the Pala casino. Are those parts being evacuated?