October 2007 California wildfires Totally Explained

Everything about October 2007 California Wildfires totally explained

|landuse= Mixed, residential and wildlands |fatalities=14 and over 500,000 acres (2,000 km²) of land burned from Santa Barbara County to the U.S.–Mexico border. Nine people died as a direct result of the fire; 85 others were injured, including at least 61 firefighters.
   California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in seven California counties where fires were burning. President George W. Bush concurred, and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts. Over 6,000 firefighters worked to fight the blazes; they were aided by units of the United States Armed Forces, and 60 firefighters from the Mexican cities of Tijuana and Tecate.
   Major contributing factors to the extreme fire conditions were drought in Southern California, hot weather, and unusually strong Santa Ana winds with gusts reaching 85 mph (140 km/h).
   The fires had numerous sources. Several were triggered by power lines damaged by the high winds. coyotehowls One fire started when a semi-truck overturned. A 10-year-old boy admitted that he accidentally started the Buckweed Fire playing with matches. that burned, 2,820 buildings (including 2,232 homes) and killed 15 people (including one firefighter) before being contained on November 3 2003. Though individually the fires didn't surpass the Cedar Fire, combined they did.
   Residents were subjected to a mix of mandatory and voluntary evacuations, depending on the projected path of a fire. Hundreds of thousands of residents were notified of evacuations via a computerized Reverse 911 phone call system. While this alert system was mostly effective, many residents in Rancho Bernardo received the calls after they'd been driven from their homes.
   Two days into the fires, approximately 500,000 people from at least 346,000 homes were under mandatory orders to evacuate, the largest evacuation in the region's history. Evacuation sites included Qualcomm Stadium, Nearly all public schools and universities in the San Diego area were closed. Many businesses closed as well. To ensure clear roads for emergency vehicles, San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders asked residents to stay home and inside.
   By October 23, some evacuations were lifted, allowing about 50,000 residents from the cities of Del Mar, Chula Vista, and Poway, and the San Diego neighborhoods of Del Mar Heights and Scripps Ranch to return home. However, the fires continued and damage was severe. The four major fires across San Diego County burned nearly and destroyed or damaged 1,350 homes and 100 businesses since October 21 2007.
   Many major roads were closed as a result of fires and smoke. On October 22, the California Highway Patrol closed Interstate 15 in both directions between State Routes 78 and 56. the following fires burned in San Diego County: San Diego County Sheriff William B. Kolendar stated that the Witch Creek Fire could be "well in excess of the Cedar Fire of 2003". While many coastal communities were evacuated as the fire moved west, the shifting winds prevented it from directly threatening those areas.
   All residents located south of Del Dios Highway, north of State Route 56, west of Interstate 15, and east of Interstate 5 were ordered to evacuate. Evacuations were also ordered for Scripps Ranch neighborhood, specifically "Everything south of Scripps Poway Parkway, north of MCAS Miramar, east of Interstate 15, and west of Highway 67". The Mesa Grande Indian reservation was evacuated due to the Witch Fire. Residents of the Barona Indian Reservation were advised to leave, though the evacuation wasn't mandatory. The casino on the reservation was closed. At approximately 01:00 on 23 October, fire broke out near Wildcat Canyon to the south of Barona, where many houses were destroyed and lives lost in the Cedar Fire. Residents of Wildcat Canyon and Muth Valley were ordered to evacuate, and the road was closed. The evacuations of Del Mar, Chula Vista, Poway, Del Mar Heights and Scripps Ranch were lifted for many residents on Tuesday October 23 in the late afternoon. At 9:50 p.m. PDT October 23, 2007, the town of Julian, California was ordered to evacuate. Due to the fires, there was no power or phone service in the town.
   Evacuation sites included Qualcomm Stadium, Many communities were evacuated, with evacuation centers set up at a nearby high school and community center. Thomas James Varshock, 52, of Potrero, died on his property during the Harris Fire on Sunday. The fire may also have caused the deaths of four migrant workers near the U.S.–Mexico border.An estimated 1,210 firefighters battled this fire.
   The Harris Fire also affected northern Mexico, near the town of Tecate.

Other fires

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Fires:
- The Wilcox Fire began at Santa Margarita/33 Area behind Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton.
- The Ammo Fire was located near the Las Pulgas/43 Area and Basilone Road.

The Poomacha Fire (or Mt. Palomar Fire) began as a structure fire on the La Jolla Indian Reservation, then established itself on Palomar Mountain, joined the Witch Fire, and entered the Agua Tibia Wilderness. Because of steep terrain, it continued to burn after all other October 2007 fires were put out, finally reaching full containment November 9, 2007.

The Rice Canyon Fire was caused by downed power lines.

The Coronado Hills Fire started near San Marcos, and burned south of Cal State San Marcos.

The McCoy Fire was located near the U.S. Forest Service on Cuyamaca Mountain. It burned and destroyed at least one structure in Pine Hills.

Los Angeles and Ventura counties

Fire data has been provided by the CAL FIRE and independent news media. As of October 2007:
| | 1 home
9 outbuildings | | 100% |- | Buckweed | October 21 at 12:55 p.m. | | 63 | 3 civilians
1 firefighter | 100% |- | Canyon | October 21 at 4:50 a.m. | | 22 | 3 | 100% |- | Magic | October 22 at 2:17 p.m. | | | | 100% |- | Meadowridge | October 23 at 12:30 p.m. | | | | 100% |- | Nightsky | October 21 at 10:35 a.m. | | | | 100% |- | October | October 22 at 10:40 p.m. | | At least 3 mobile homes damaged | | 100% on October 23 |}

The Buckweed Fire burned north of Santa Clarita in Agua Dulce and the community of Canyon Country, triggering many evacuations. This fire was the result of a child playing with matches.

The Canyon Fire burned around Malibu, California, specifically in Malibu Canyon. It was the first of the October California wildfires to receive significant attention from the national media. In addition to damaging or destroying 14 homes, the fire destroyed two Malibu landmarks: Castle Kashan and the Presbyterian Church.

The Magic Fire started near The Old Road at Magic Mountain Parkway on the west side of Santa Clarita. Flames came within a few yards of West Ranch High School and a large housing development in Stevenson Ranch, but were pushed away. The fire is believed to have been caused accidentally by welders at a construction site. and also threatened the communities of Fillmore, Ventura and Ojai. On October 24 2007, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visited an evacuation center at El Toro High School. Schools and districts all over Orange County were closed on Friday, October 26, 2007 because of the smoke and bad air quality. As of October 27 2007, a reward of $250,000 was being offered for information leading to arrest of the arsonist(s). Fourteen homes and twenty four outbuildings have been destroyed. Eight homes and three outbuildings have been damaged, and sixteen firefighter injuries have been reported. In all, the fire burned, but is 100% contained.

San Bernardino County

Current data on the fires has been provided by the CAL FIRE and independent news media. As of October 30 at 6:00 p.m. PDT, the following fires have burned in San Bernardino County:
| | 201 homes
3 outbuildings | | 100% |- | Grass Valley | October 22 at 5:08 a.m. | | 174 homes
2 outbuildings | | 100% |- | Martin | October 23 at 9:00 a.m. | | 1 home damaged | 1 firefighter | 100% |- | Walker | October 23 | | | 2 firefighters | 100% on Oct. 23 |- | Cajon (Devore & Glen Helen) | October 22 at 12:15 p.m. | | | | 100% |- | Little Mountain Fire | October 22 at 3:30 p.m. | | | | 100% on October 22 |}

The Slide or Green Valley Lake Fire burned near Green Valley Lake, east of Lake Arrowhead. The Green Valley Lake, Arrow Bear, and Running Springs communities were evacuated. 1,359 firefighters were assigned to the fire. The estimated cost is $1.2 million. Water pressure in local systems was lost and conditions were too extreme for fighters to continue efforts in some areas.

The Grass Valley Fire was located just north of Lake Arrowhead.

The Martin Fire began near Martin Ranch Road at Meyers Road.

The Walker Fire burned near Walker Ave in the dairies of Ontario.

Together, the Devore and Glen Helen Fires (or Cajon Fire) forced the closure of Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass. One fire was started by an overturned semi-truck.

The Little Mountain Fire threatened several homes and other structures near Cal State San Bernardino before it was contained. Due to the cumulative effects of the area fires, the University closed for the week of October 23.

Santa Barbara County

The Sedgewick Fire was the northernmost of the October 2007 California wildfires. It ignited around 6:00 a.m. PDT on October 21, 2007 from a downed power line. The fire burned a total of near Los Olivos. Approximately 2000 people were affected and 800 homes threatened before the fire was 100% contained around 5:00 p.m. on October 22.

Riverside County

The Roca Fire was reported around 3:52 p.m. on October 21 in the vicinity of SR 79 at SR 371 in Aguanga. One home was destroyed and one injury was reported. It was 100% contained on October 22, after burning .

The Rosa Fire, three clustered blazes in the Via Santa Rosa/Rancho California Road area of western Temecula began October 22. It was 100% contained by October 24, after burning . Investigators suspect arson.

The Wildomar Fire began around 12:30 on October 24 in Wildomar brush, between I-15 and I-215. It was 100% contained within the same day, after burning .

Baja California

Fires also burned in northern parts of the Mexican state of Baja California. The Harris Fire burned near Tecate, and fires burned near Tijuana as well.
More than fifteen thousands hectares were consumed by the wildfires in Baja California. Tijuana, Tecate and Ensenada were the municipalities more afected by the fire. In total there were seven fires caused by Santa Ana winds. The community of Maneadero, in the highlands of Ensenada, was the most affected.

Wind and weather

The fires occurred at the end of a dry summer and were exacerbated by the seasonal Santa Ana winds. The San Diego Union Tribune reported, "Santa Ana winds blowing up to 60 mph combined with temperatures into the 90s to create in the worst possible fire conditions."
Southern California was in the midst of an unusual drought; in Los Angeles, California, with only 3.21 in (82 mm) of precipitation in 2006-2007, it was the driest year on record. The combination of wind, heat, and dryness turned the chaparral into fire fuel. Officials believed that some of the fires generated their own winds, similar to the Oakland Firestorm of 1991. The effects of the smoke were felt as far away as Brentwood, California (in the East Bay, near Stockton), where it impacted local weather. The high-speed Santa Ana winds also rendered the use of dropping water from fire fighting aircraft inefficient; until such winds abate, most payloads of water are just disbursed by the wind over an area so large that the water evaporates before it can reach a large fire on the ground.

Impact

On October 21, the Harris Fire damaged and disabled the Southwest Power Link, a 500,000-volt power line from Arizona to San Diego. Power outages were reported in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and other counties on October 22 to 333,500 Southern California Edison customers, most being restored within 24 hours. The power outage also affected the areas of Ojai, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Rialto, Fontana, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Mira Loma, Hesperia, Corona, Bloomington, Irvine, Calimesa and Rubidoux. This outage also caused 230 people to be without power in Malibu. The California Independent System Operator Corp declared an energy transmission emergency in southern California on October 23, due to wildfires affecting the lines. 500,000-, 230,000- and 138,000-volt lines were disabled in San Diego, and some lines in other areas were also disabled. 24,992 lost power, due to lack of power from the power grid.coyotehowls
Authorities say the evacuations, which displaced more than 900,000 people, have been the largest evacuation number in the history of California. By mid-morning on October 22 2007, thousands of evacuees were taking shelter in Qualcomm Stadium and other locations throughout San Diego. The Navy moved all non-essential personnel from Naval Base San Diego barracks onto nearby vessels to accommodate refugees. The San Diego Wild Animal Park moved some animals to the on-site animal hospital for their protection. When fleeing the fires, migrant workers received little assistance: some were arrested, while others were turned away from shelters because they didn't have adequate identification. Some Mexican firefighters expressed concern about their countrymen, while others felt the migrant workers were aware of the risks they were taking. coyotehowls Only a few cases of looting were documented. Six people were arrested for stealing supplies from Qualcomm stadium, another was arrested for theft after being found in possession of stolen goods in the Jamul fire area coyotehowls, and two were arrested near the Tecate border crossing.

Air quality and health effects

The concentration of particulate matter 10 micrometers and smaller (designated PM10) reached unhealthy levels as a result of the fires. PM10 particles are small enough to enter deep into the lungs, and possibly the bloodstream. San Diego city attorney Michael Aguirre, citing concerns over weather conditions and air quality, urged the city to consider a voluntary evacuation of the entire city.

Response

Government agencies and volunteers worked together to mitigate the effects of the fires. According to the state of California's Consolidated Response web page, "There are 17 active fires in Southern California. The priority for fighting fires as of 19:30 on October 21 is the Buckweed, Witch, Harris, Canyon, Ranch, Santiago, and Sedgewick Fires." March Air Reserve Base is the primary staging area for relief supplies as coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. CERT teams, in various cities, received their first activation since the program's inception in this region. Trained volunteers provided assistance ranging from coordinating relief, to acting as a fire department auxiliary. Religious groups such as Victim Relief Ministries, Giving Children Hope, Hope Force International, Apostolic World Relief, Church of Scientology, and the Salvation Army responded by opening places of worship, donating supplies, and feeding workers and evacuees.coyotehowls The Department of Defense contributed twelve engines for firefighting efforts. The National Guard called up 1,500 troops, with 17,000 available if needed; another 100 California National Guard medical personnel provided medical assistance. One of the larger airtankers, the Martin Mars, sent through a private contract from its home in Port Alberni, British Columbia on October 25, landing on Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, California. It has a 7,000 gallon capacity. Two other airtankers and their crews from Quebec worked on the fires, part of an annual three-month contract with the state of California. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in seven California counties where fires burned. President George W. Bush concurred NBC Nightly News reported, with the evacuations reaching about 950,000 people, that this was the largest peacetime movement of Americans since the Civil War era, although similar evacuation figures were cited for Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina.
On November 6 2007, the state of California reported that the fires were under control. According to the state's consolidated report on the fires, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger "called on the Blue Ribbon Task Force to assess the next steps to take at federal, state and local levels of government to prevent and fight future fires. Additionally, the Governor asked the task force to review the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Fire Commission’s recommendations, generated after the 2003 fires, to evaluate if the recommendations are still the best and most effective ways in preventing and fighting fires."

Further Information

Get more info on 'October 2007 California Wildfires'.

External Link Exchanges

Do you know how hard it is to get a link from a large encyclopaedia? Well we're different and will prove it. To get a link from us just add the following HTML to your site on a relevant page:

<a href="http://october_2007_california_wildfires.totallyexplained.com">October 2007 California wildfires Totally Explained</a>

Then simply click through this link from your web page. Our crawlers will verify your link, extract the title of your web page and instantly add a link back to it. If you like you can remove the words Totally Explained and embed the link in article text.
As long as your link remains in place, we'll keep our link to you right here. Please play fair - our crawlers are watching. Your site must be closely related to this one's topic. Any kind of spamming, dubious practises or removing the link will result in your link from us being dropped and, potentially, your whole site being banned.