CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : Inciweb: Witch Wildland Fire - 197,990 acres

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Inciweb: Witch Wildland Fire - 197,990 acres - 30 percent

Witch Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED

Summary

This fire has burned 197,990 acres and is 30 percent contained. Mandatory evacuations are in place for the community of Julian and there is still a threat to Pine Hills, Cuyamaca, Wynola, Santa Ysabel, Alpine, and Harbison Canyon. Fire progression has slowed to the west, southwest, and northwest. Residents are being allowed to return to portions of Poway, Escondido, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego and Rancho Bernardo. Wildcat Canyon is closed. Highway 67 is closed from Poway to Ramona.

1,061 homes, 30 commercial properties, and 175 outbuildings have been destroyed. 62 homes, 10 commercial properties and 50 outbuildings have been damaged. 1,000 residences, 100 commercial properties, and 300 outbuildings are still threatened.

2,883 firefighters are assigned to this incident under unified command. 22 firefighters have been injured on this fire. The estimated cost of this fire to date is $7 million. Witch Fire Information Line (619) 590-3160.

Cal Fire Web Site

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	10/21/2007 at 1235 hrs.
Location	Witch Creek area, East of Ramona
Incident Commander	Pat Kerschen

Current Situation

Total Personnel	2,883
Size	197,990 acres
Percent Contained	30%
Estimated Containment Date	10/31/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Timber (grass and understory) Fuel model 2, 4, & 5. Oak woodlands and brush are also involved.
Fire Behavior	Continuing to see perimeter growth on the northeastern and eastern side of the fire. Fire is burning in mature heavy brush and four year old brush from the 2003 fire siege.
Significant Events	Progress on containment has been favorable in Branch II, IV, V (west side). Conditions have improved in these areas to allow return of residents into Poway, Escondido, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego and Rancho Bernardo. SDG&E is beginning to re-establish utility service to some affected areas. President Bush, Governor Schwarzenegger and Senator Feinstein surveyed fire area and visited base camp this morning. Damage assessments report 239 destroyed vehicles.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Continue to protect life, property, and the environment. Securing perimeter is a high priority.
Projected Movement	Fire will continue to move east threatening the communities of Julian and Pine Hills. Fire has potential to move north and join the Poomacha Fire. Fire spread to west and southwest is still a potential.
Growth Potential	Medium
Terrain Difficulty	High
Containment Target	Containment efforts are showing positive results. Requested resources have arrived and changes in weather pattern will both help achieve management strategy.
Remarks	CAL FIRE Team #10 is in Unified Command of the incident. Base Camp is established at Kit Carson Park (Kit Carson & Bear Valley Parkway, Escondido). Changes in weather and on scene resources are making good progress with fire suppression efforts. ICT has reconciled outstanding orders killing most that were unfilled to assist the resource needs of the other major fires. Damage assessment is underway.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	5-9 mph W
Current Temperature	87 degrees
Current Humidity	12 %

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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