SoCal Firefighters: "We Can't Stop It"

Officials Say If 100-MPH Gusts Continue, "The Beast" Won't Stop Until It Reaches The Pacific

(CBS/AP) 

The fires also forced the evacuation of more than 350,000 houses, most of them in San Diego County. With the area's average household size of 2.6 people, that means the evacuation could encompass nearly 910,000 people.

“It's basically a mass migration here in San Diego County. The numbers we're seeing are staggering,” said Luis Monteagudo, a spokesman for the county's emergency effort.

The sweeping devastation was reminiscent of blazes that tore through Southern California four years ago, killing 22 and destroying 3,640 homes.

The ferocity of the Santa Ana winds in 2003 forced crews to discard their traditional strategy and focus on keeping up with the fire and putting out spot blazes that threatened homes.

Fire crews were especially concerned about dense eucalyptus groves in Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe, fearing the highly flammable trees could turn neighborhoods prized for their secluded serenity into potential tinderboxes.

The usual tactic is to surround a fire on two sides and try to choke it off. But with fires whipped by gusts that have surpassed 100 mph (161 kph), that strategy does not work because embers can be swept miles ahead of the fire's front line. In those cases, crews must keep 10 to 30 feet (3 to 9 meters) back from the flames or risk their own lives, Los Angeles County firefighter Daryl Parish said.

Any flame longer than 8 feet is considered unstoppable, and even water and fire retardant will evaporate before they reach the ground, said Gordon Schmidt, a retired U.S. Forest Service deputy director of fire management.

“In these situations, the strategy generally is to fall back,” he said. “You pick and choose your priorities in terms of what you can protect. Instead of trying to stop the fire, you try to prevent it from burning resources.”

In the suburbs north of San Diego, firefighters did just that as fingers of flame pulsed across a 10-lane freeway and raced up a hill on the opposite side in just seconds. The fire engulfed white-washed homes at the top of the ridge.

Firefighters battling two fast-moving blazes in Lake Arrowhead, in the San Bernardino Mountains about 130 miles east of Los Angeles, were also taxed by steep terrain, winding roads and a forest packed with dead or dying trees.

More than 200 homes burned in Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs, fire officials said.

At least three times in the past two days, fire crews have been forced to “pull off, and wait for things to calm down” because of danger, said San Bernardino National Forest Ranger Kurt Winchester.

Fighting a gusty blaze also puts the firefighters in harm's way. At least twice in the last two days, firefighters have had to unfurl their emergency fire shelters - small fire-resistant tents to shield them when they can't escape a fire.

Weather conditions only grew worse, with temperatures across Southern California about 10 degrees above average. Temperatures were in the 90s by mid-afternoon and wind gusts up to 60 mph were expected in mountains and canyons.

In the San Diego suburb of Del Dios, fire completely destroyed one home but seemed to touch other items at random. Two lawn chairs and an umbrella were left in a burnt, melted heap on the patio. But behind the house, near a murky brown swimming pool, two chaise lounges and a four-foot-tall decorative fountain survived unscathed.

[trenticus-2009]

Posted by speakinup: I can''''t hear you trenticus - your actions speak much louder than your words.

And what actions would that be??? You think I am going to go fight a fire? You think I am going to waste my money flying out to a place I can''t get in to just to hand out diapers and water? What actions? You say so much while saying NOTHING at all!

[speakinup]

"Why are there so many people talking out their a$$e$ when their mouths know better? Posted by trenticus

I can''t hear you trenticus - your actions speak much louder than your words.

[trenticus-2009]

Why are there so many people talking out their a$$e$ when their mouths know better????

[trenticus-2009]

Do you know the number of California National Guard that are in Iraq ? 2,000

Now, my math is a little rusty, but I believe that still leaves 17,000 people. BTW - I don''''t think they sent ANY aircraft that would have been used to fight fires.

So quit being such a liar - leave that to the politicians, ok.
Posted by speakinup

DUDE!??? See how you are??? I am speaking on a whole. If the Californians can F^U^C^K^ this fire to death then so be it! Don''t sit and cry as to why the nations MILITARY won''t come running! We are taxed as a military... Moron!

[speakinup]

"Where are all the military personell that can help fight this thing??? OOOOPS!! Forgot, they are tied up at the moment in IRAQ! Posted by trenticus

So, trenticus, do you know the total number of National Guard there is in California ? 19,000.

Do you know the number of California National Guard that are in Iraq ? 2,000

Now, my math is a little rusty, but I believe that still leaves 17,000 people. BTW - I don''t think they sent ANY aircraft that would have been used to fight fires.

So quit being such a liar - leave that to the politicians, ok.

[trenticus-2009]

Silly Twixcon - if you knew anything of the real stats, you''''d know it''''s all the other states getting a handout from California. We pay a ton more in tax dollars than we get in benefits - like most blue states. You may not like the truth there, but it is a fact.
Posted by SusanHelit

Susan, Dear.... California is SO broke because of all the illegal immigrants in your state. California DOES NOT pay anything to other states for their people to live. California cannot even afford a flour tortilla! If it is so taxing on you why don''t you move??? Do you enjoy shakey-town that much? How about fire storms? Wind damage? Smog? Smoke? Rude people? Flash-trends? Bad drivers? Lousy attitudes??? Come on! Get a grip, quit whinning and move yer a$$ to another state!

[susanhelit]

Silly Twixcon - if you knew anything of the real stats, you''d know it''s all the other states getting a handout from California. We pay a ton more in tax dollars than we get in benefits - like most blue states. You may not like the truth there, but it is a fact.

[trenticus-2009]

Posted by Nsenior08: We need to know what they are doing to the fire and not where the SD Chargers are practicing!!!! Get something about their homes on the news and help these people out.

DUDE! The press can''t show you every house for every victim. Right now you are all victims! Grab your mic and camera and get out there and report it if you can get near the carnage! Oh by the way the SD Chargers are practicing in Arizona for the moment... Just an FYI...

[trenticus-2009]

Where are all the military personell that can help fight this thing??? OOOOPS!! Forgot, they are tied up at the moment in IRAQ!

[twixcon]

Nobody is dissing Californians, or their questionable decisions to live in areas susceptible to natural disaster. What people have a right to be upset with is the way that Calis always come running for a handout when the predictable disasters occur.

If you want to live on mud cliffs, or in forests prone to fire or on earthquake prone fault lines, fine. Buy your own insurance and accept the consequences. Don''t come to the government and by extension the taxpayers like a bunch of whining babies.

I kkow that it is tough for liberal Californians who are used to looking at the world through rose colored glasses to accept. But face it, you ignored reality and it bit you on the butt. Now shut up and live with it.

Would you please, be kind as to inform us the conditions of Reche Road in Fallbrook? we heard from all the other areas, yet not Fallbrook, We are praying for the rest of the californian being hurt by this furious fire and we hope we can all find some relief and lots of patience. Please do inform us. God Bless this Nation, God Bless all the Firemen out there.....

[nsenior08]

I am a senior at chaparral high school in Temecula, CA, our school as well as Temecula Valley are shelters for those who had to evacuate from their homes in Fallbrook. Watching the news for hours and hours and not seeing anything being covered on their home is infuriating!!! People need to know what is happeneing and not everyone has access to the internet. We need to know what they are doing to the fire and not where the SD Chargers are practicing!!!! Get something about their homes on the news and help these people out.

[spaspy]

There were ordinary peoples'' homes burnt too, not just the wealthys'' homes you morons! One of them was my cousins. I read these comments and it shames me to think that people have so much disdain and hatred in their hearts, and jealousy that overtakes their ability to feel compassion. Narrow minded people!

[nottellin1]

I cannot tell you how proud I am to be a native Californian today.

[nottellin1]

Its an absolute fact that had we more air resources we would have been able to control this fire"

Too bad the National Guard is off somewhere "guarding" another nation!

Thanks, Mr. Bush for putting America first!

This is another ignorant statement, we had plenty of air resources, it''s California after all. The winds kept air resources on the ground.

[nottellin1]

Now... President Bush is asking for $46Billion fund for the war... How in the world would he be able to assist the Southern CA?! He is just bringing our $1.00 bill value down way deep in the hole like maybe, $5,000 value for each $1.00 bill we have.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by stratching at 07:36 AM : Oct 24, 2007

Quite obviously CA doesn''t need federal assistance, we take care of our own. Try looking at local CA news reports, we are doing quite nicely without the Fed and wish they would stop trying to take credit for doing nothing. Sadly, Feinstein & Boxer are the worst. I just heard Feinstein suggesting that we should zone so that houses can''t be built in fire prone hillsides, good grief she is clueless. Those of us that live in those areas are prepared and insured. Bush is on CNN right now, saying the Fed will send anything that is needed, thanks anyway, keep FEMA away and stop sdtealing the credit that should belong to ordinary Californians.

[brianbwb-2009]

Sorry. The phrase "concrete jungle" made me think you were referring to Hollywood as in "Movieland."
Posted by Iceman_1960

In fact, the landmark known as the Ranch Market, a semi open air supermarket, and snack stand stayed open 24 hours for more than half a century, was gutted by fire during the condo conversion process. Some of us saw suspicious people lurking behind the market the night of the fire, which finalized the end of the artists community, as the owner had no choice but sell out, and the demolition of the area began. a tragic end to what used to be a good place to live and create.

That is why I am inclined to believe some of the "victims" may have set fires themselves, to get out of balloon mortgages, or stave off bankruptcy. This was a rather common practice there, and the time of year, with predictable Santa Ana conditions would ensure no investigations by the insurance companies.

It just got out of control. One shouldn''t try to mess with Mother Nature...

[radiob-2009]

I forgot Osama Bin Laden makes a "guest" appearance as the Creation.

[radiob-2009]

New York Times


A new production of the musical "The Rocky Picture Horror Show" is tentatively scheduled to run on Broadway beginninng in December 1st. The film is considered a cult classic and a midnight movie %u2014 although it is widely known by mainstream audiences. It has a large national and international following. While the film''s popularity is high, critics point to the lack of plot and cartoonish style as well as the overly sexual nature of the film as some of its major drawbacks. Regardless, the movie has gone on to become one of the most well known and financially successful midnight movies of all time. It is the longest running theatrical release in film history. The new production includes a cast of America''s best known actors and some lesser known figures. The cast will have Rudy Giullani as Dr. Frank N Furter, Hillary Clinton as Janet Weiss, Mitt Rommney as Eddie, John Edwards as Riff Raff, Barack Obama as Brad Majors, Ron Paul as The Criminologist, and Fred Thompson as Columbia.

[iceman_1960]

"I meant Hollywood, the city, not the general area. The city is but a small square on the LA map, just beneath the Hollywood sign."
- Posted by brianbwb at 08:41 AM : Oct 24, 2007

Sorry. The phrase "concrete jungle" made me think you were referring to Hollywood as in "Movieland."