Tuesday, October 31, 2007 - 5:15PM
Promise of Spring
In the midst of devastation
when our tears so freely fall,
Comes the promise of renewal
and Gods healing for us all.
There is hopefor after winter
comes the promise of the spring,
When new life sprouts through ashes
and the birds their carols sing.
When we feel the gloom of midnight,
and our hearts feel like a stone,
We know the dawn is coming
and we know we're not alone.
For when our hearts are breaking
we are still sustained by love,
The comfort of our families
our friends, and God above.
And though the force of nature
can at times destroy and kill,
It also can embrace us
with its comfort and good will.
It's peace and gentle beauty
bring true solace to our hearts.
The promise of renewal helps us
make another start.
For after each disaster
the flowers will bloom again.
Though the battle may seem hopeless
we will overcome and win.
For after rain comes sunshine,
and joy will follow pain.
The unfair blow that seems so cruel
will somehow turn to gain.
So Smiley Park, we love you,
and just wanted you to know
You're in our hearts and in our prayers
no matter where we go.
By Lucinda Hill Spencer 1997
Written after the 1997 firestorm that destroyed the home of Gene and Dale Bauer and damaged their magnificent daffodil garden in Smiley Park. The Bauers chose to stay in Smiley Park and rebuild and Gene painted daffodils on the cement foundation of her ruined home. The winter snows subsequently covered the burned and scarred earth with a blanket of white. The next spring as the snow melted, the garden was truly beautiful even amidst the sad reminders of the fire. The Bauers rebuilt home and daffodil garden survived the current disaster.
Lucinda has moved with her husband to Tennessee, but treasures the memories of Smiley Park and the mountains that she loves. A survivor of three mountain fires, her heart goes out to the mountain residents, especially those who have lost their homes. (LucindaHill@compuserve.com)
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - 6:45PM
Here is the latest update as well as fire maps of the fires.
Witch Fire 197,990 acres 99% contained Witch Fire Map 10/26/07
Harris Fire 90,440 acres 95% contained Harris Fire Map 10/26/07
Poomacha Fire 49,540 acres 70% contained Poomacha Fire Map 10/26/07
Rice Fire 9,472 acres 100% contained Rice Fire Map 10/26/07
Horno/Ammo Fire 21,004 acres 100% contained Horno/Ammo Fire Map 10/26/07
Santiago Fire 28,445 acres 80% contained Santiago Fire Map 10/26/07
Ranch Fire 58,401 acres 100% contained
Slide Fire 12,759 acres 97% contained Slide Fire Map 10/26/07
Grass Valley Fire - 1,247 acres 100% contained Grass Valley Fire Map 10/26/07
Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 11:08 PM - INLAND EMPIRE
Here is the latest update as well as fire maps of the fires.
Witch Fire 197,990 acres 90% contained Witch Fire Map 10/26/07
Harris Fire 90,750 acres 70% contained Harris Fire Map 10/26/07
Poomacha Fire 49,150 acres 50% contained Poomacha Fire Map 10/26/07
Rice Fire 9,000 acres 80% contained Rice Fire Map 10/26/07
Horno/Ammo Fire 21,084 acres 90% contained Horno/Ammo Fire Map 10/26/07
Santiago Fire 28,012 acres 65% contained Santiago Fire Map 10/26/07
Ranch Fire 58,401 acres 97% contained
Slide Fire 12,789 acres 85% contained Slide Fire Map 10/26/07
Grass Valley Fire - 1,247 acres 95% contained Grass Valley Fire Map 10/26/07
Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 3:40 PM - INLAND EMPIRE
Instant Riverside has posted some unedited video from Green Valley Lake. Watch the video here.
Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 3:14 PM
Orange County:
-- Santiago Fire: 27,900 acres east of Irvine. 50 percent contained. 16 homes destroyed. Eight structures damaged. Five firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $5.5 million.
San Bernardino County:
-- Slide Fire: 12,789 acres in Green Valley Lake area of the San Bernardino Mountains. 75 percent contained. 201 homes, three outbuildings destroyed. One firefighter injured. Firefighting cost: $8 million.
-- Grass Valley Fire: 1,140 acres in Grass Valley area of the San Bernardino Mountains. 95 percent contained. 162 homes destroyed. Firefighting cost: $4.6 million.
San Diego County:
-- Witch Fire: About 197,990 acres from Witch Creek to Rancho Santa Fe. 90 percent contained. 1,040 homes, 30 commercial properties, 414 outbuildings destroyed. Two killed. Two civilians, 34 firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $11.3 million.
-- Harris Fire: 90,750 acres 70 miles southeast of San Diego. 65 percent contained. 206 homes, 247 outbuildings, one commercial building destroyed. Five killed. 21 civilians, 32 firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $9.7 million.
-- Poomacha Fire: 49,150 acres on La Jolla Indian Reservation and northeastern county territory. 50 percent contained. 136 homes, 19 outbuildings destroyed. 14 firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $5.2 million.
Ventura County:
-- Ranch Fire: 58,401 acres in northern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County near Piru. 97 percent contained. One home, nine outbuildings destroyed. One firefighter injured. Firefighting cost: $9million.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE OVERALL STATISTICS:
-- Acreage: 516,356.
-- Homes destroyed: 2,013.
-- Deaths: Seven directly due to fire; seven involving evacuees, including infirmity, age, accident.
-- Injuries: 71 firefighters, 27 civilians.
-- Current evacuees: at least 1,432 people in 13 shelters.
Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 11:40 AM - INLAND EMPIRE
Mandatory Evacuations lifted for most of the mountain at noon today. Some small parts of Arrowhead, Arrowbear, GVL and Running Springs will still stay under mandatory evacuation for the time being. Re-entry passes are not required. This map shows the restricted area in the Grass Valley area.
Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 10:40 AM - INLAND EMPIRE
Mandatory Evacuations lifted for most of the mountain at noon today. Some small parts of Arrowhead, Arrowbear, GVL and Running Springs will still stay under mandatory evacuation for the time being. Re-entry passes are not required.
Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 10:15 AM - SAN DIEGO
Fire officials say the Rice fire is now 100 percent contained.
Full containment on the fire, which has burned 9,000 acres in and around Fallbrook, was reached at about 7 a.m. today. About 850 firefighters are battling the blaze.
Meanwhile, the Witch fire, the county's largest, has burned about 198,000 acres and authorities expect to have it fully contained by Tuesday. Right now, they estimate containment at 90 percent.
Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 10:14 AM
-- Grass Valley Fire: 1,140 acres in Grass Valley area of the San Bernardino Mountains. 95 percent contained. 162 homes destroyed. 6,000 threatened. Firefighting cost: $4.6 million.
Orange County:
-- Santiago Fire: 27,700 acres east of Irvine. 50 percent contained. 16 homes destroyed. Eight structures damaged. Five firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $5.5 million. According to broadcast reports this morning, firefighters are successfully protecting homes in Silverado Canyon and are confident they can keep the fire from crossing the Riverside County line. The weather is cooperating.
San Diego County:
-- Witch Fire: About 197,990 acres from Witch Creek to Rancho Santa Fe. 75 percent contained. 911 homes, 30 commercial properties, 175 outbuildings, 239 autos destroyed. Two killed. Two civilians, 34 firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $9 million.
-- Harris Fire: 86,500 acres 70 miles southeast of San Diego. 65 percent contained. 188 homes, 222 outbuildings, 120 autos, one commercial building destroyed. Five killed. 21 civilians, 16 firefighters injured. 1,500 homes threatened. Firefighting cost: $7.8 million.
-- Poomacha Fire: 45,000 acres on La Jolla Indian Reservation and northeastern county territory. 45 percent contained. 78 homes, 19 outbuildings destroyed. 2,000 homes threatened. 14 firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $3.5 million.
-- Rice Fire: 9,000 acres in Fallbrook. 90 percent contained. 206 homes, 40 outbuildings, 91 autos, two commercial properties destroyed. 200 homes threatened. Three firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $3.1 million.
-- Horno/Ammo Fire: 21,084 acres on Camp Pendleton Marine base. 95 percent contained.
Ventura County:
-- Ranch Fire: 58,401 acres in northern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County near Piru. 97 percent contained. One home, nine outbuildings destroyed. One firefighter injured. Firefighting cost: $8.7 million.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE OVERALL STATISTICS:
-- Acreage: 505,349.
-- Homes destroyed: 1,790.
-- Deaths: Seven directly due to fire; seven involving evacuees, including infirmity, age, accident.
-- Injuries: 71 firefighters, 27 civilians.
-- Evacuees: 4,403 people in 28 shelters.
Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 10:12 AM
Saturday, Oct. 20
-- 9:42 p.m. Ranch fire breaks out in the Angeles National Forest in northeast Los Angeles County near the town of Piru. Santa Ana winds clocking 50 mph soon whip it into a 500-acre blaze.
-- The National Weather Service clocks wind gusts of 108 mph at Whitaker Peak near Tejon Pass, with gusts of 85 mph common below mountain passes and canyons.
Sunday, Oct. 21
-- 4:50 a.m. Canyon fire starts in Malibu. Investigators suspect downed powerlines are the cause. Fueled by gusts of dry wind, flames force about 1,500 people to evacuate and tear through 1,200 acres of dry brush and posh neighborhoods by the end of the day.
-- 9:23 a.m. Harris fire starts in eastern San Diego County. Before the end of the day it injures four firefighters and 10 civilians, and leaves one person dead.
-- 12:37 p.m. Witch Creek fire starts. Within 12 hours, it chars more than 5,000 acres in northern San Diego County and forces the evacuation of Ramona.
-- 5:55 p.m. The Santiago fire is reported near Silverado Canyon in Orange County. Inspectors later say an arsonist started three separate fires along the 241 toll road in south Orange County.
-- 6 p.m. Buckweed fire starts near Agua Dulce in northeastern Los Angeles County. It injures three people, destroys nearly 10 structures and scorches 16 square miles.
-- The Harris fire claims its first victim, later identified by the San Diego County medical examiner's office as Thomas Varshock, 52, of Tecate.
Monday, Oct. 22
-- 4:16 a.m. Downed powerlines ignite the Rice fire in eastern San Diego County, soon forcing 45,000 people to evacuate.
-- 5:08 a.m. Grass Valley fire starts near Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains and destroys 113 homes.
-- 8:02 a.m. The Slide fire is reported in the San Bernardino Mountains near Lake Arrowhead and consumes more than 1,500 acres and 20 structures by the end of the day.
-- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tours Malibu where six homes were lost and declares a state of emergency in seven counties, opening the way for government aid.
-- 11:38 a.m. The Cajon fire burns 250 acres before being contained.
-- About 10,000 evacuees arrive at Qualcomm Stadium, where the San Diego Chargers play football.
-- 2:17 p.m. An accident at a construction site ignites a fire near the Magic Mountain theme park in the Santa Clarita Valley. It burns about 1,000 acres in a couple hours.
-- In San Diego County, the worst-hit area, authorities placed reverse 911 calls to some 346,000 homes, warning people to evacuate.
Tuesday, Oct. 23
-- 3:13 a.m. The Poomacha fire breaks out near Highway 76 in Pauma Valley in San Diego County.
-- President Bush declares a federal emergency for the seven-county region, speeding federal disaster relief.
-- 9:23 a.m. The Horno/Ammo fire starts on the Camp Pendleton Marine Base.
-- Shortly after nightfall, officials announce 500 homes and 100 businesses have been destroyed in northern San Diego County.
-- Authorities begin to lift evacuation orders on the Poway, Scripps Ranch and Del Mar Heights neighborhoods of San Diego.
-- Los Angeles County fire officials lift evacuation orders in Malibu and reopen Pacific Coast Highway.
Wednesday, Oct. 24
-- In the late afternoon, Los Angeles County firefighters declare the Buckweed, Magic and Canyon fires contained.
-- The Santa Ana winds decrease to between 21 to 36 mph, allowing aircraft to assist the firefighting effort.
-- Federal agents join the search for evidence of arson in the Orange County Hills.
-- Power officials ask San Diego residents to conserve electricity because the fires brought down a key transmission line.
-- Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff tours the evacuation center at Qualcomm Stadium.
-- Residents return to the San Diego County cities of Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Del Mar, Encinitas and Solana Beach, while officials issue new evacuation orders for other parts of the county.
Thursday, Oct. 25
-- Recovery crews find the bodies of two more people believed to have been killed by fires near Poway, north of San Diego.
-- President Bush takes an aerial tour of the burn areas and meets with people in Rancho Bernardo who lost their homes.
-- Late in the day, authorities announce that four charred bodies were found in an area near the Mexican border that is a popular crossing for illegal aliens entering the United States.
-- Winds continue to ease and temperatures drop, helping firefighters.
Friday, Oct. 26
-- Mandatory evacuation orders are lifted for most residential areas of San Diego.
-- The evacuation center at Qualcomm Stadium closes at noon.
Saturday, Oct. 27
-- Cooler temperatures and occasional light rain in some areas continue to help firefighters.
-- Authorities confirm that the four charred bodies found near the Mexican border on Thursday were killed by flames, bringing the death count to seven.
Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 3:08 AM - INLAND EMPIRE
The first official list of burned homes from the San Bernardino County Assessors Office is here.
The fact that it took this long to get this list out is pathetic. This is the second time that they decided on their own to keep secrets from the general public. There needs to be a better system. There needs to be a better way. Last time, everyone got pissed off and then they forgot about it. Don't let it happen again. Why should they not tell the public for days on end when they know such things.
I understand not letting information public when it could be inaccurate. But keeping it from people when it's incomplete is not right.
I don't live anywhere close to a burn area but I stay up night and day trying to get the information out there. The fact that elected officials work against me and all others who are trying to get the information out is horrible.
Ranger Al was disappointed that he couldn't be here this time. He was on vacation on the other side of the country when the fires broke out.
If I offended anyone by publishing burn reports before the official report came out then please let me know. I talked to many people who lost their homes in the last week. It's not easy. But I believe that the information I provided was beneficial.
In 2003 this website was established to inform evacuees what was going on in their community when officials wouldn't tell them. In 2007, we proved that nothing has changed.
I am just one guy. One guy who thinks things should be different. I spent this week putting aside my normal life to help others who I thought could use my help. I hope that a few of you were helped. I hope that a few of you agree that things need to be changed. I hope that a few of you make change happen.
I am going to bed. It's 3:37 on Sunday morning. Many of you just found out that your house burned down 3-4 days ago and even though the officials knew about it, they made you wait until now to find out about it. I'm very sorry for your loss. Please let me know what I can do to help you at this point.
Good night.
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