California Wildfires--Live Blog #3 (Update)

**DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS DIARY: RECOMMEND THE 'Mothership Diary' by Miss Blue**

First off, best of luck to the many folks in the DKos community who are in the line of fire today, quite literally. The central part of San Diego county, in particular, appears to be in the midst of chaos. Thoughts and prayers to those in harms way.

Southern California is in the midst of one of its worst firestorms in the past few generations, rivalling such horrible years as 2003, 1993, and 1978.

In times like this, the community can be a great resource for both information and support. In that spirit, let's continue the Live blog that has been going on since early this morning. More beneath the fold

LiveBlog Volunteer List:

1. Miss Blue

2. gchaucer2

3. Steve Singiser (um...that'd be me)

4. Moody Loner

5. condoleaser

6. Remembering Jello

7. va dare

8. 4Freedom

9. bruinbown

A Special tip of the hat to people like JohnsonWax, Barbara, and Egarratt who blogged on this yesterday evening and early this morning!!

There are also a few good things to remember from the previous diaries:

Please do not post pictures or frivolous comments.  If you are here to mock or gloat, or give us your philosophical meanderings about the meaning of wildfires go play with other trolls.  These diaries are not about you.

The Following Emergency Numbers Are For The San Diego Area--
To volunteer to help:  858-306-1266

ANIMAL RESCUE NUMBERS: 760-735-0448  OR 760-789-5755
This group will get trailers, and help rescue left behind animals.

For those interested in following events on the radio, please try:
KLSD (1360 AM in San Diego)
KNX (1070 AM in Los Angeles)

POSSIBLY USEFUL WEBSITES:

Sign On San Diego (SD Union Tribune)

National Interagency Fire Center

Finally, a gentle reminder...if you are not in an area which is in fire danger today, do not call the emergency numbers or access the various websites posted earlier today in a quest for information. Leave those numbers/websites to those in true need.

Good luck today to all of our friends in harms way.....

NOTE: I will be back in about 45 minutes (3 PM PT)...I have to go run a very short practice for my kids

•  Post Updates HERE....

  Good luck to my friends to the South, as well as those in the Lake Arrowhead area.

  by Steve Singiser on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:21:57 PM PDT

  •  Thanks, Steve

    We need it.  We've now got 250,000 people under evacuation orders here in San Diego.

    by arbiter on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:24:37 PM PDT

    •  Where are they GOING?

      I mean, they won't all fit in QualComm....

      by Auntie Neo Kawn on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:25:33 PM PDT

      •  Qualcom is up to

        10,000 people. North County Fair is being used, but crap, that's right along 15 close to the burn area.

        by Lisa Lockwood on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:28:50 PM PDT

        •  The good news is

          North County Fair is surrounded by a gazillion acres of asphalt.  It'd take a helluva fire to get past that kind of a firebreak.  Knock wood.

          by Mehitabel9 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:31:01 PM PDT

          •  If it gets hot enough

            Asphalt burns.  Oil base and all.

            by MadScientist on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:50:14 PM PDT

            •  GOOD LIVE UP TO THE MINUTE

              real time streaming info on evacuation areas, both mandatory and voluntary, as well as evac routes, evac centers as they open or get full, and traffic routes to take or avoid HERE.

              by Lisa Lockwood on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 03:04:29 PM PDT

      •  areas that aren't on fire -

        My parents headed down to Point Loma - lots of people headed to places that aren't in immediate danger.  

        For potential evacuees:  Mira Mesa High is filled to capacity.  Valley Center High will be opening for the folks out in Fallbrook who just got their evacuation orders.  No evac orders here in Encinitas yet, but I'm waiting - virtually every community around us is at least partially under evacuation now.

        by arbiter on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:29:54 PM PDT

    •  This series of diaries is KOS, at its very best!

      by drmah on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:35:35 PM PDT

      •  I agree

        The whole liveblog concept, started by the members of this community, has shown time after time to be worth it's weight in gold.

        by Miss Blue on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:36:58 PM PDT

        •  asdf

          liveblogging: it's not just for politics

          by guyermo on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:45:09 PM PDT

  •  Some useful links...

    I've pulled together for my rotation in this liveblog event:

    JUST HEARD IN CNN'S INTERVIEW WITH SAN DIEGO AUTHORITIES: IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA OF A FIRE, CALL '211' RE: UP-TO-MINUTE INFORMATION FOR EVACUATION!

    Media Links:
    ABC Local Channel 7 News with regular updates re: evacuation locations and emergency contacts (great links to local orgs).
    CBS 2 Firewatch.
    CBS 8 Ditto.
    Verizon  keeps evacuees 'connected' via free call-forwarding. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
    CNN - Watch Live (banner has link).
    California Fire Blogspot.
    Signs on San Diego
    The Weather Channel.
    Google News.
    National Weather Service pages:
    -NWS Southern California Overview
    -NWS Southern California Fire Weather
    -National Interagency Fire Center

    CNN also has a page devoted to live reports including invitations for evacuees to leave messages for their families: CNN Send an I-report. E-mail: [e-mail].

    Emergency numbers:
    Animal Rescue: 619-299-0871

    by va dare on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:30:44 PM PDT

    •  Excellent! thank you.

      by gchaucer2 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:34:38 PM PDT

    •  Rancho Santa Fe Fire District

      http://www.rsf-fire.org/...

      by dnamj on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 02:43:49 PM PDT

  •  1: 34 pm: Press conference with the Governor

    MSNBC (and I must assume all cable news) has a live news conference going right now.

    by CeeusBeeus on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:33:43 PM PDT

    •  I blogged the conference

      my transcription is below.

      Thanks to you and all who are participating in this effort.  This is such a scary and heartbreaking situation.

      Stay safe everyone.

      by Ellicatt on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:40:23 PM PDT

  •  South of Poway to evacuate

    areas south of Scripps Poway Parkway to evacuate.
    This means the fire could be heading to Scripps Ranch and South Poway.

    by chrisc on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:56:47 PM PDT

    •  Oh no

      And that's right next to Mira Mesa - where the high school is jam packed full of evacuees.

      by kyril on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 03:31:19 PM PDT

  •  well-wishers and Cullyfornian roll call diary

    here

    Post there to let us know you're ok, or to wish others well, post your prayers/thoughts/etc. General discussion might be better over there.

    by Buffalo Girl on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 02:00:50 PM PDT

    •  I added your link,,,

      to the mothership diary.

      by Miss Blue on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 02:24:15 PM PDT

      •  Merci, Mlle. Bleu

        by condoleaser on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 02:30:18 PM PDT

  •  As of 3:15 PST

    approx a quarter of a million people are evacuated. According to county sheriff dept, worst fire in history for the area, if not So Cal.

    by Lisa Lockwood on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 03:13:21 PM PDT

•  Thanks Steve!

  by gchaucer2 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:25:03 PM PDT

  •  thank YOU, gbchaucer2

    for the last thread!

    by noweasels on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:27:17 PM PDT

    •  You are very welcome.

      Miss Blue and donnamarie came up with the idea to set up a liveblog to keep this going after Barbara's diary.  

      I'm astounded at the number of folks affected here -- and the outpouring of assistance.  DKos at its very best.

      by gchaucer2 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:29:10 PM PDT

  •  FYI - if anyone above me...

    on the liveblog task-list isn't ready, mine (#7) is ready to go - would just need to change the no. in the title.

    by va dare on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:27:20 PM PDT

    •  Thanks.

      However, #4 is ready and awaits the word.

      by Moody Loner on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:29:14 PM PDT

      •  9 is ready also, but can move up if needed.

        by bruinbown on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:30:07 PM PDT

        •  #8 is ready, too - and I want to add those

          great links va dare added.

          by 4Freedom on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 03:13:29 PM PDT

    •  #5 is set

      by condoleaser on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:30:55 PM PDT

  •  Thanks to YOU....

    For managing the last thread so well....

    by Steve Singiser on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:29:21 PM PDT

    •  Steve, I'm

      so impressed with the information you and CeeusBeeus provided.  These diaries are a huge public service -- like the ham radio operators.

      by gchaucer2 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:37:39 PM PDT

  •  gchaucer2 and Miss Blue

    I'm going to have Liveblog post a Mothership Roll Call diary.  It's going to be short but I think your idea was great.  Give me a few minutes.

    by donnamarie on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:31:19 PM PDT

    •  Thanks, donnamarie

      I don't want to sound like a worry wart but I feel like a lot of these folks are family and I'm worried for them.

      by gchaucer2 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:36:53 PM PDT

      •  Buffalo Girl just posted Roll Call

        HERE!

        by Liveblog on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 02:01:06 PM PDT

        •  I think we should get

          the link up in the body of each Liveblog fire diary.  It is slow going right now.

          by gchaucer2 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 02:03:46 PM PDT

          •  Buffalo Girls Roll Call diary

            Made the Rec List but barely.  Go show here some love
            Here.

            by donnamarie on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 02:27:13 PM PDT

•  THE LATEST AT 1:25 PM....

  1. Schwarzenegger is now on teevee, from San Diego. He says Bush called and is "very concerned." That is good to know, I guess.

  2. New fire in the DeVore area (near the 15/215 interchange.

  3. There is now structural loss in the Green Valley Lake fire in the San Bernardino area. At least a dozen or more homes, according to KABC-TV here in Los Angeles.

  4. There are now more evacuations in Malibu, near the Piuma Road area.

  by Steve Singiser on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:27:10 PM PDT

  •  I'm sure everyone is

    comforted that Bush is "very concerned."  Just as long as he doesn't send his mother as goodwill ambassador.

    by gchaucer2 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:39:00 PM PDT

    •  THANK YOU!

      I desperately needed to laugh today! I don't like being this scared.

      by asimbagirl on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:46:08 PM PDT

  •  President Bush will now go to Honolulu

    and play a ukulele with the presidential seal

    by guyermo on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:47:16 PM PDT

•  Oh wow!!!

  President Bush and staff have offered their assistance.

  Anyone got a guitar he can strum on ? Maybe a violin?

  by Lisa Lockwood on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:27:20 PM PDT

  •  I am sure Blackwater is ready

    to deploy their 'assets'.

    by minorityusa on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:29:35 PM PDT

    •  Planned Blackwater Expansion in Portrero

      would have been burned - ammunition would have exploded in this fire.

      by chrisc on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:58:56 PM PDT

    •  Was the place

      blackwater wanted to build their new diego death camp in in the fire area?

      by djpat on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:59:16 PM PDT

  •  keep him away. everything Bush touches turns

    into a disaster.

    And if Naomi Klein is right, he wants it that way.

    by bigchin on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:30:53 PM PDT

  •  Sounds good

    Maybe he can come and shut down firefighting and rescue operations for six hours while he takes photo ops.

    We need someone to come and make insensitive remarks and smirk.

    Oh, and eat cake. Can't forget the cake.

    The violin's optional - he's already been fiddling around for seven years.

    Then again, wouldn't want him to interrupt his vacation for anything less important than a brain-dead woman or vetoing stem cell research.

    by Moody Loner on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:31:59 PM PDT

  •  as long as he's not telling anyone

    that they've done a "heck of a job", I feel safe.  The instant congratulations start going out, I'll know I'm fucked.

    by arbiter on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:32:01 PM PDT

  •  with all due respect

    please confine analysis and extraneous comments (i.e., not directly dealing with info and updates) to other diaries; keep this one on-task - thanks.

    by condoleaser on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:32:38 PM PDT

    •  Well put, condoleaser

      and I am duly chastened.

      by gchaucer2 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:40:22 PM PDT

    •  You're right. But, grrrrrrr.

      by Mehitabel9 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:41:31 PM PDT

    •  Sorry about that

      Fish gotta swim. Birds gotta fly. Moody's gotta make cheap shots at the Chimp.

      I'm done, I'll save it for Open Thread.

      Sorry.

      by Moody Loner on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:41:47 PM PDT

    •  Sorry

      working off stress and frustration.
      On the plus side, son just replied to my text message that so far Western Carlsbad is ok. Lots of smoke, but no evac notice yet.

      (thank you, gods/godesses)

      by Lisa Lockwood on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:44:21 PM PDT

    •  Well Said, But Temptation Is Hard To Resist :) NT

      by Steve Singiser on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:46:24 PM PDT

  •  Perhaps he could authorize

    deployment of the National Guard?

    Oh, wait. Uh... nevermind. They'd never get to this nation in time.

    by johnsonwax on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:33:35 PM PDT

  •  Let him eat B-Day cake with McCaine n/t

    by kfred on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:34:07 PM PDT

  •  What's he gonna do?

    Send in "Heckuva Job" Brownie?

    Or maybe the California National Guard?  Oh, right, they're in Iraq.

    Useless sack of shit bastard.

    by Mehitabel9 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:40:53 PM PDT

  •  Wrong instrument

    Get Bush a lyre. It's more traditional.

    No, wait! Never mind: he has a plentiful supply of liars lyres right where he is. You might even say he's staffed with them. (Staphed with them?) He has personal knowledge or liars lyres, in fact.

    by sardonyx on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:43:26 PM PDT

    •  Hilarious

      Indefatiguable humor on Daily Kos today!

      by The Termite on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:53:53 PM PDT

    •  And maybe brownies instead of cake? n/t

      by kfred on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 03:03:49 PM PDT

  •  Now is the time for National Guard to be at home!

    If Bush had left more National Guard and Army Reserve troops at home instead of fighting in Iraq, they would available to help with evacuation (and others tasks) and freeing up the firefighters from those tasks so they could concentrate on fighting the fires--as least as much as they humanly can. These fires look so big and so scary that the firefighters facing these infernos are brave indeed and deserve every bit of assistance that can be provided.

    To all those in these fire areas, please be careful and stay as safe as you can--it sounds a bit hollow to me coming from the safety of my home in cool and rainy Houston, but I mean it.

    by dewtx on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:46:56 PM PDT

•  Attn: Southern Californians:

  If you're reading this, and you're in the path of a fire, or near the path of a fire, or think you might at some point be in the path of a fire -- please DO NOT WAIT for evacuation orders.  Pack your cars, get your families, and head to safety sooner rather than later.

  You do NOT want to be sitting in traffic watching a fire in your rearview mirror along with five thousand other people who waited till the last second to evacuate.

  Many good thoughts are going out to all of you.

  by Mehitabel9 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:27:38 PM PDT

  •  Excellent advice.

    Pass it on to all family/friends you're in communication with.

    I know my parents never evacuated for any of the FL hurricanes.  Just pissed me off to no end.  They lived in the middle of a national forest, so any stiff winds sent trees crashing down all around the house.

    by Miss Blue on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:31:41 PM PDT

  •  Evacuation tips

    If you have time to pack - what to bring:

    Important documents (Social Sec cards, birth certificates, passports)

    Legal & financial records (Deeds, wills, bank info, insurance papers)

    Address book

    Irreplaceable items - photographs, heirlooms

    Clothing & toiletries

    Medications

    Radio & flashlight

    Linens, towels

    Laptop,if you have one

    Cell phone, camera (and chargers)

    SDG&E asks that you do NOT turn off your gas when you leave unless you smell gas.

    Lock up your house - they were some issues with looting during the Cedar Fire evacuations

    by thebes on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:36:54 PM PDT

    •  One other thing

      Take as many digital pics of your possessions being left behind as possible.  Include serial numbers if you can.

      by Miss Blue on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:40:04 PM PDT

    •  Come back to this list in a week.

      It's nearly the same list you should already have packed for an earthquake. No warnings for that.

      Perhaps I'll do an emergency prep diary in a bit.

      by johnsonwax on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:46:40 PM PDT

      •  I recorded a video this morning

        of the contents of our house, with a running commentary. The videotape and camera are already in the car. We're waiting until the kid comes home from school, and we are probably going to leave even before the reverse 911 call comes in - if it does.

        by asimbagirl on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:49:01 PM PDT

        •  Will be thinking of you, asimbagirl...

          and everyone else we know and love.

          Stay safe!

          Always the mountains,
          va dare

          by va dare on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:50:27 PM PDT

        •  Good luck.

          Leave early. It'll make things less stressful. Try to find something relaxing to do when you leave. Go out to dinner. See a movie. Take the kids mind off of things. It's hard, I know, but it'll help.

          by johnsonwax on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:57:57 PM PDT

    •  And make sure

      that the evacuation route you've chosen is actually open and not completely clogged with traffic.

      by MadScientist on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:58:43 PM PDT

    •  Also LEAVE PORCH LIGHTS ON

      This alerts the fire dept that the house has been evacuated.

      by CeeusBeeus on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 02:21:37 PM PDT

    •  And

      take a deck of cards or something. Sitting in a shelter is stressful and boring.

      by Moody Loner on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 03:09:08 PM PDT

  •  Remember

    Packing a car and taking a drive cost almost nothing but some time and gas. Staying home yields you nothing. It's not like you are going to fight this. Your home is just as well protected if you leave it 5 hours early as 5 minutes early.

    Put a note on the door that you have evacuated so the firefighters don't need to waste time there.

    And no need to make the worst of it. It's 85 at the beach. Come make sandcastles and take the kids to dinner after. Take their minds off of it. Odds are everything will be fine, but you won't be worried about life and limb and can make the best of a bad situation. Everyone will look back at the day with an entirely different attitude.

    by johnsonwax on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:40:07 PM PDT

    •  Not a Good Day to take a drive

      Emergency personnel have asked those who are not in the evacuation areas to stay at home.

      Now I am not trying to disagree with your advice- but you can't take the kids to the beach today. The roads are closed or only going in one direction and others are clogged with people who are evacuating. It can take hours to go 10 miles.

      And it really isn't a great beach day although it is quite warm. The air quality is extremely unhealthy. The winds are furious and everyone is tense.

      There really are no guaranteed "safe places." A fire could just as easily aim at some of the evacuation centers- in fact, several that were open are now closed- such as Poway High School. It was originally an evacuation center. There is a fire at Lake Poway right now that is headed toward Poway High and everyone has been evacuated.

      No one should be driving around without a purpose today. Everyone needs to be ready to evacuate as soon as they are asked.

      Putting a note on the door is great advice, because emergency personnel are going door to door in some areas looking for left behinds and people could save them some time by leaving a note, maybe asking them to remove the note after they have gone through so the house is not targetted later by vandals.

      by chrisc on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 03:15:58 PM PDT

•  San Diego Union Tribune Is Now Reporting....

  That the Harris fire (along the border) has exploded in size, and may burn all the way to Chula Vista.

  by Steve Singiser on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:30:53 PM PDT

  •  The Fire is now in Mexico

    Note the heat map as of an hour ago (border at the bottom)

    

    I'll compile another one, soon, for comparison.

    by Pluto on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 02:29:08 PM PDT

•  Parts of Fallbrook are being evacuated

  in San Diego County. That's home to Haas avacadoes.

  by Mary Mike on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:31:12 PM PDT

  •  And just east of Camp Pendleton!

    OMG

    by noweasels on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:32:09 PM PDT

    •  Pendleton's probably toast.

      So much of it is undeveloped land - all that brush would go up like matchsticks if the fire gets near there.  :-(

      by Mehitabel9 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:35:56 PM PDT

      •  Not to mention the unexploded ordnance

        :-(

        by thebes on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:39:00 PM PDT

        •  Christ, what a thought!

          Good thing most of it is in Iraq.

          by MadScientist on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:47:04 PM PDT

      •  Pendleton okay as of 1315...

        The commanding officer of Camp Pendleton reports all facilities operating normally as of 1315 hours this afternoon. Base personnel & their families may call the base information line at [phone] for information updated hourly.

        by FresnoKossack on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:39:55 PM PDT

      •  Actually,

        They'll probably be fine. The military is generally quite good at preparation for this kind of thing. And remember, every soldier still on base is a firefighter for the base by fiat.

        Some land could burn through, but I bet they are good on fire breaks and building clearances.

        Ordinances won't be a problem. That stuff is locked up tight and fireproof. Any residual stuff in the field could be - they do a lot of live ammo stuff there, from what I understand.

        by johnsonwax on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:50:11 PM PDT

•  Road closings: San Diego County

   Interstate 15 is closed southbound from state Route 78 and northbound from state Route 56

   State Route 94 between Harris Ranch Road and state Route 188

   State Routes 78 and 79 from Julian to Ramona

   State Route 79 from Ramona to Sutherland Dam Road

   State Route 67 limited to southbound traffic

  by noweasels on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:31:18 PM PDT

•  Some places San Diegans could go

  I have no idea if any of these have been opened up as evacuation sites, but if you're desperate, I doubt they'd chase you outta there:

  - Mission Bay Park

  - University Town Center (outdoor mall east of Mira Mesa)

  - UC San Diego campus (off of La Jolla Village Drive and Torrey Pines)

  by Mehitabel9 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:35:05 PM PDT

  •  Another spot

    - Mormon Temple (right off I-5 at La Jolla Village Drive) - I think there's quite a bit of parking there.

    by Mehitabel9 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:37:11 PM PDT

    •  Sea World

      Right near Mission Bay Park and another spot with buttloads of parking lot around it.

      by Mehitabel9 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:38:32 PM PDT

      •  Coronado Island

        Prolly the safest spot in the entire county, if you can actually get there.

        by Mehitabel9 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:39:28 PM PDT

        •  Can you imagine 250,000 people

          trying to cross the Coronado Bridge?

          by MadScientist on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:47:51 PM PDT

          •  Used to be bad when 1 carrier came in to port...

            Can't imagine what tens of thousands would be like...

            by FresnoKossack on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:50:53 PM PDT

          •  In these winds, that is a terror ride.

            They were saying that people in SD looking for hotels were now given the option of Anaheim.  Traffic nightmare.

            by Pithy Cherub on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 01:52:03 PM PDT

          •  Ugh.

            But then again, I have a hard time imagining 250,000 people in San Diego trying to go anywhere all at once.  And if they're all heading in the same direction?  [shudder]

            Several friends of my mom's who are in the path of the fire are evacuating to her place in La Jolla.  One of them has been checking in regularly with her cell phone -- she's been sitting in traffic for over two hours now, trying to get to my mom's place.  And this is just to drop off a key for some of the other folks headed that way.  Her plan was to do that, go home again and pack and then go back to my mom's.  Somehow... I don't think that's gonna happen.

            This whole thing absolutely sucks.  My mom is safe (she's in Colorado, and instead of flying home tomorrow as planned is flying here instead), and her house is safe, but my brother lives in Ventura and works in Santa Clarita, and his house is up in the hills on the outskirts of town and is highly vulnerable to fire.  Thankfully he and his family are away on vacation.  His inlaws live in Lake Arrowhead, which is burning.  And so far I think there are something like 5 or 6 people heading for my mom's to stay, who are in danger of losing