UPDATE Wednesday 10/24/ 11:00 AM For more updates on local news, photos and vides (especially for those out of the area where news covereage is not as complete, visit the San Diego NBC site.
There are various updates over the last couple of days in the comments themselves, rather than here in the post itself.
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OCTOBER 22:
I have been pondering what to write. It was an easy decision to focus on much more important things, the significant fires burning here in San Diego. All else pales in comparison.
What many have feared for months is occurring - the Santa Ana winds have blown into the area and fires are spreading rapidly and out of control up in Los Angeles and here in the San Diego County area.
Fires are raging in a number of San Diego County areas - Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Ramona, down south near the border, a new fire in San Marcos, Escondido and more. With the significant winds fires keep popping up and none of them are under control.
7:30 AM Monday 10/21 - I JUST TALKED TO WILLIAM JOHNSON and he is being evacuated as I write. He's fine but obviously concerned and trying to get things in order quickly to leave.
Schools have been closed, parts of the I15 freeway have been closed as have other roads in the endangered areas. The roada are becoming increasingly clogged with so many areas needing to leave, and major roads being closed in some areas.
The smoke has darkened much of the sky and the smell is pretty strong. Lots of areas have been evacuated. People are asked to not use their cell phones to keep lines of communication open.
Photos were taken early this morning in my backyard. Eerie sky.
What is concerning is that the winds have not died down and are blowing ashes and embers which start fires elsewhere. Here are some photos from my back yard. So, yeah, 200,000 points. But it seems sort of irrelevant in the face of what Southern California is facing.
8:06 AM I JUST TALKED TO WILLIAM AGAIN - not being evacuated NOW but on alert. More later. There are more important thngs to worry about.
11:40 AM UPDATE. Winds are still very strong and more homes have been destroyed in Rancho Bernardo, Escondido and other communities. Some evacuation oreders have been lifted!! Most of the evac centers are now filled. Smoke is worse and everyone told to stay inside and keep their windows shut. Several hospitals have been evacuated as well. Things keep shifting because of the winds so it's hard to keep track of all that is happening. They are bringing firefighters from Northern Cali and other states to help since they are so overloaded. The photos in the burning areas further inland are horrific. I was in one of the areas where there is a fire in Rancho Santa Fe on Saturday with my Rancho Bernardo buyers - I suspect they have had to evacuate.
Just announced mandatory evacuation of Rancho Santa Fe.
250,000 evacuated so far as of 12 noon
2:00 PM
Just talked with Roberta - she's fine but getting prepared. Talked with Laurie Manny who has been in touch with Brian who I believe was at one of the evac centers (Qualcomm Stadium). Also talked to Marlene who is fine for now. Air quality is getting worse and worse. Here are some more photos - air is like the marine layer. Some downed trees and many branches too, due to the winds. Awful!
4:30 PM Monday 10/22:Just talked to Bill Roberts in Mission Valley and he is safe and well. They have not been asked to evacuate. The fire in San Marcos (about 5 miles east) is getting under control and the wind, at least near the coast, seems to be dying. It's the best we can hope for.
The air quality is horrible and you can see some ash floating around. The air looks lilke fog.
RED CROSS REGISTRY - The Red Cross has a national registry where you can call to report that you are safe. 800 RED-CROSS ...800 733-2767 - Thanks for this tip, Marlene
Another good site for San Diego folks to get updates and other information is San Diego County Emergency.
HERE ARE SOME OTHER LOCAL POSTS FROM AR MEMBERS:
Roberta Murphy
Marlene Bridges
Laurie Manny
Posted by
Jeff, We are looking at the same sky up here in Ventura County. Breathing is becoming difficult, my throat is burning, and my eyes are watering. We have not slept much because of the strong winds, but I guess that is nothing compare to the people who are in danger of losing their homes.