San Diego Fire Update: Wednesday Morning
Here’s a good update from the SignonSanDiego fireblog:
Witch Fire:
About 196,420 acres in northern San Diego County from Witch Creek to
Rancho Santa Fe. One percent contained; 500 homes, 100 businesses and
50 outbuildings destroyed; 375 other structures damaged, including 250
homes and 75 businesses. Two civilians and 12 firefighters injured.
This is the really big one north of us. Last night it merged with the Poomacha fire to create a giant nightmare of a blaze.
Harris Fire:
About 72,000 acres 70 miles southeast of San Diego north of the border
town of Tecate. 10 percent contained; 200 homes destroyed; 2,000 homes
and 500 commercial properties threatened. One civilian killed,
21 civilians and five firefighters injured.
This is the one south of us that has spread steadily north, marching over Mt. Miguel and threatening homes in Rancho San Diego and Spring Valley. It started way down south near the border and for a while was moving northwest, threatening Chula Vista, but then shifted northeast toward Mt. Miguel and beyond. Although its northern edge is now less than ten miles from our house, we remain safe here and still don’t expect to have to evacuate.
Rice Fire: At
least 7,500 acres in Fallbrook in northern San Diego County. 10 percent
containment; 206 homes and 2 commercial properties destroyed. One
firefighter injured.
Poomacha Fire:
20,000 acres on the La Jolla Indian Reservation and in northeastern San
Diego County. No containment; 50 homes destroyed and 2,000 homes
threatened. Ten firefighters injured.
This is the one that merged with the Witch Creek fire in the night. It is moving toward Palomar Mountain in one direction and Cleveland National Forest in the other.
Camp Pendleton Fire: 6,000 acres on the Marine base north of San Diego. 10 percent contained.
One of the newer fires. It shut down traffic on I-5 for a while, but I’m now reading that the highway is open again.
Today’s firemap (updates every hour, in theory).