Living in inland Southern California, evacuating one's home becomes a weird sort of right of passage. I had to do it 3 or 4 times over the course of my life. Most of which while living with my parents and one time while in my own home in downtown Ramona during the Cedar Fire that ravaged San Diego in the late part of October in 2003. That last one was scary - the fire seemed to be everywhere at once, starting in the east and ending up in the west, taking out all lines of communication and closing the roads in and out of the city.

The Witch Creek Fire started around 12:30 today. I knew things were bad when CNN mentioned that the road was closed at my parent's street. They were given the mandatory evacuation order about an hour ago and are now holed up at my sister Katie and her husband's house about 9 or 10 miles away.

Katie was able to evacuate her horse out earlier today to her work site (she's a therapeutic riding instructor, for new readers) and was only allowed back in to my parent's house because of her horse trailer and old driver's license with their address. The fire department's official instructions, "Get in and get out - fast!" My Mom's horse is now on his way to a safe place for the night.

I feel so unbelievably helpless at this moment. I can only provide support through brief phone calls every so often, and the most actual "help" I've given is to guide my Dad through the set up of KOMO's streaming online news. If you're looking for news on the Witch Creek Fire, I'd suggest you listen there.

Fire is just a short distance (less than a mile) from my parent's home and moving toward it. The Santa Ana winds are getting worse, not better. Please send prayers and good wishes.

UPDATE (9:45 PM): Fire is cresting the hills at the SD Country Estates and climbing the hills in Black Canyon.

10/22/07

UPDATE (7:29 AM): The area where my parent's house stood burned last night. They heard from a friend that the property was in flames, no word on the status of their house itself. The answering machine is ceasing to pick up, but that could be because the phone lines are down, not because it no longer exists.

The evacuation of Ramona was incredible. The majoity of people were out by 1 AM with the turnaround of the incoming lanes into outgoing lanes. Katie called me at seven this morning panicky because they are going to have to move the horses again as the fire is heading toward their evacuation site in
Rancho Santa Fe. Their overnight hotel room is also becoming an unsafe site and they will need to find another place to go tonight as the fire continues to travel and eat up miles.

The 15 Freeway has been shut down in the Rancho Bernardo area. People attempting to get into work this morning have clogged the freeways and having the freeway shut down are causing additional problems. I'm continuing to feel helpless here, but I know that flying to SD would not help anything.

UPDATE (1:25 PM): My family is still in their hotel in Del Mar, hopefully safe for the time being. Their small pets are with them. Our horses, now three as we had loaned my horse, Padre, to my sister's riding program had to be moved this morning as the fire bore down on Rancho Santa Fe. My parents, sister, and brother-in-law, along with volunteers moved all the horses to the Del Mar Polo Grounds as the Racetrack is full and they are beginning to double-stable the horses together. With Lakeside now under danger from fire, San Diego is running out of places to move large animals.

Over 250,000 people in San Diego are fleeing fires, the Witch Fire and San Pasqual fire have caused the Wild Animal Park to evacuate. The 15 Freeway is still shut down and the 5 Freeway is likely next.

The National news is disgusting me with a focus on the Malibu fire that is burning "expensive homes belonging to the famous". Good information can be found at the FireBlog at Sign On San Diego.

FIRE INFO:

Currently, the San Diego Country Estates and the Black Canyon are in Ramona are under MANDATORY EVACUATION. If you are any closer to the Witch Creek area, consider yourself evacuated.

UPDATE 9:45 PM: Evacuation is MANDATORY FOR THE NORTH OF RAMONA TO MAIN STREET and RECOMENDED FOR ALL OF OF RAMONA. Traffic is bad, however, the CHP is directing traffic and moving people as quickly as possible. Highway 78 through Escondido, Highway 67 through Poway, Highland Valley Road, and Wildcat Canyon Road are all evacuation routes. IF YOU LIVE IN RAMONA YOU NEED TO GET OUT NOW PER THE DIRECTION OF SD EMERGENCY. INCOMING LANES MAY BE TURNED AROUND TO BECOME OUTCOMING LANES. DO NOT WAIT. GO NOW.

Large animals can be evacuated to the fficial&hs=2T8&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=lakeside,+ca+rodeo+grounds&spell=1">Lakeside Rodeo Grounds. Staging grounds for horses is available at the Poway Rodeo Grounds.

You must have a permit to rescue large animals - you may be forcibly stopped if you attempt to rescue without a permit.

Small animals may be evacuated with you. Many San Diego area humane socieities are staying open throughout the night and will accept small animals if your shelter will not accept them.

Find more information at sdcountyemergency.com.

Posted by: Ensie at 07:29 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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