This is so out of control. None of the fires have any or little containment and the wind is not expected to die down tonight. We are hearing it may not get under control until Thursday.
The photos above are ones Joe took at various times around the house. They were not doctored in Photoshop. It looks like Armageddon! The air quality is so bad people are wearing surgeon's masks around outside--there is so much debris and smoke in the air it is hard to see and even breathe.
Joe's work is in Rancho Bernardo, which was evacuated this morning, and a few of his colleagues and their families that live in that area. We had about 8 people at our house tonight, because they literally had really no where to go.
We are west of I-5 freeway in Encinitas, north county coastal area. So far, at 3am...we are in voluntary evacuation mode. We feel safe, but nervous. The big fires in the past have never crossed the 5, but they are also saying that this is the worst fire ever, so it's really a hard decision to make. We don't want to leave our home--2 dogs--2 birds-and have to drive 2 hours in the middle of the night to a hotel.
All the guests have left and went to various hotels in the L.A. area, and I just hope we are not making a bad decision by staying here.
We are all packed up and ready to leave, but I just am not so sure we are being too hasty. I took a nap earlier and Joe is getting a few hours sleep while I monitor these insane fires.
The Witch Fire in San Diego has already burned 145,000 acres and is 0% contained.
The cause of this fire is still under investigation, but it's beleive to have started when strong santa ana winds blew down some powerlines.
This is the reported damage so far, but The Witch Fire is far from being extinguished and is burning out of control:
750 homes destroyed or damaged
Swirling winds create a fire funnel as a Rancho Santa Fe home burns. The Witch Creek fire still burning already has left a grim toll: 500 homes destroyed and 250 damaged; 100 commercial buildings destroyed and 75 damaged; 50 outbuildings destroyed and 50 more damaged. At least 145,000 acres burn.
There is also another fire burning in south San Diego, which has been named the Harris Fire. The Harris fire is only 5% contained and has burned over 22,000 acres.
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