Cedar Fire - October 25, 2003 - 280,278 acres

Anniversary - Cedar Fire - October 25, 2003

The Cedar Fire was the largest wildland fire in California history.Fire Siege of 2003 from Space
Photo credit: NASA - Southern California Fires, Oct 26, 2003

Several massive wildfires were raging across southern California over the weekend of October 25, 2003. Whipped by the hot, dry Santa Ana winds that blow toward the coast from interior deserts, at least one fire grew 10,000 acres in just 6 hours. Moving northwest to southeast along the coast, the first cluster of red dots is a combination of the Piru, Verdale, and the Simi Incident Fires; The next cluster-to the east of Los Angeles-is the Grand Prix (west) and Old (east) Fires; To their south is the Roblar 2 Fire; Next is the Paradise Fire; Then the massive Cedar Fire, whose thick smoke is completely overshadowing the coastal city of San Diego; Finally, at the California-Mexico border is the Otay Fire. At least 13 people have lost their lives because of these fires, which officials are reporting were caused by carelessness and arson. Thousands have been evacuated across the region and hundreds of homes have been lost.

The Facts: 13 civilian fatalities, 1 firefighter fatality, 104 firefighter injuries.
2,232 residences, 22 commercial properties and 566 outbuildings destroyed,
53 residences and 10 outbuildings damaged. 148 vehicles destroyed.

The Cedar Fire in the Cleveland National Forest: The wildland fire started in the Cleveland National Forest, 25 miles east of San Diego, when a lost hunter claimed he lit a small signal fire while looking for help.

The U.S.F.S. responded within ten minutes of the initial report of the fire, and soon deployed 10 fire engines, two water tenders, two hand crews and two chief officers. Within 30 minutes, 320 firefighters and six fire chiefs were en route to the fire.

A San Diego County Sheriff's Department helicopter, equipped with a Bambi bucket, en route to the fire and only minutes away, was called off by a National Forest Service fire chief because it was after sunset "cutoff" for firefighting air attack missions.

Initially, At 5:30 in the evening of October 25, it was reported at 20 acres, the winds were moderate and spread of the fire was moderate. But around midnight the Santa Ana winds began to develop out of the North east, soon it was 5,500 acres and and by 3:00 a.m. 62,000 acres(1). and the fire began moving quickly westward, Overnight, the fast-moving fire killed 12 people living in Wildcat Canyon and Eucalyptus Hills, in the northern part of Lakeside, who had little or no warning that the fire was approaching, and destroyed 28 homes on the Barona Indian Reservation.

In only a few hours the Cedar Fire had pushed southwest over 30 miles and had burned over 100,000 acres at an average rate of 5,000 acres per hour and crossed several large highways including Interstate -15. By noon on October 26 the fire was burning hundreds of homes in the Scripps Ranch community of San Diego, and was threatening many others.

The Cedar Fire in the city of San Diego: Fire entered the City at 6:30 in the morning on October 26.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department responded with 50 engine companies,11 brush rigs, 9 truck companies and two airport firefighting rigs. The communites of Scripps Ranch and Tierrasanta were hardest hit by the fire.

By the time containment was declared on October 28th, 28,676 acres within the city had burned. 335 structures were destroyed, 71 others were damaged. The dollar loss in San Diego city was estimated at $204 million.

The Cedar Fire was one of 15 fires throughout Southern California that month, including the Old Fire, which became known as the "2003 Firestorm" and the "Fire Siege of 2003."

------------- The Final CAL FIRE update ------------------

Last updated:	November 5, 2003 at 6 a.m. - FINAL UPDATE
Start Date/Time:	October 25, 2003 at 5:37 p.m.
Administrative Unit:	Cleveland National Fores/CDF San Diego Unit/Cedar Fire
Location:	Southern San Diego County
Acres Burned:	280,278
Containment:	100%
Control:	Estimate for control is November 16, 2003 at 6 p.m
Structures Destroyed:	2,232 residences, 22 commercial properties and 566 outbuildings destroyed. 53 residences and 10 outbuildings damaged. 148 vehicles destroyed.
Evacuations:	All evacuations lifted.
Injuries:	13 civilian fatalities, 1 firefighter fatality, 104 firefighter injuries.
Cause:	Human (Under Investigation)
Cooperating Agencies:	CDF, U.S. Forest Service, Local Government
Total Fire Personnel:	1,478
Costs to date:	$ 27 million
Major Incident Command Team:	#5
Conditions:	One firefighter fatality and three firefighter injuries occurred in the Julian area on 10/29/03. Funds Set Up For Novato Firefighters Community support has been a great moral boost for firefighters!!! .Significant release of excess fire fighting resources is ongoing. This fire is under a unified command USFS and CDF.

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Fatalities: Fifteen people, including one firefighter, were killed by the fire. Most deaths occurred during escape

• Galen Blacklidge — 50, Lakeside, teacher, artist – Died October 26, 2003 while trying to escape in her vehicle
• Christy-Anne Seiler-Davis — 42, Alpine - Died October 26, 2003 while in her home on Vista Viejas Road in Alpine
• Gary Edward Downs — 50, Lakeside, small-business owner – Died October 26, 2003 while trying to escape the flames on Wildcat Canyon Road
• John Leonard Pack — 28, Lakeside - Died October 26, 2003 along with his wife Quynh trying to escape the fire on Wildcat Canyon Road
• Quynh Yen Chau Pack — 28, Lakeside - Died October 26, 2003 along with her husband John trying to escape the fire on Wildcat Canyon Road
• Mary Lynne Peace — 54, Lakeside, nurse - Died on October 26, 2003 along with her sister-in-law Robin Sloan near the Barona Indian Reservation
• Steven Rucker — 38, Novato, firefighter, died October 29, 2003 in Julian on firefighting operations
• Stephen Shacklett — 54, Lakeside, construction superintendent - Died October 26, 2003 while trying to escape the fire in his motorhome on Muth Valley road
• James Shohara — 63, Lakeside, correctional officer - Died October 26, 2003 along with his wife and son while trying to escape near San Vicente Reservoir, Lakeside
• Solange Shohara — 43, Lakeside, correctional officer - Died October 26, 2003 along with her husband and stepson while trying to escape near San Vicente Reservoir, Lakeside
• Randy Shohara — 32, Lakeside - Died October 26, 2003 with his stepmother and father trying to escape near San Vicente Reservoir, Lakeside
• Robin Sloan — 45, Lakeside, Walmart employee - Died October 26, 2003 attempting to escape the fire near the Barona Indian Reservation
• Jennifer Sloan — 17, Lakeside, student - Died October 26, 2003 along with her mother Robin while attempting to escape the fire near the Barona Indian Reservation
• Ralph Marshall Westley — 77, Lakeside, retired retail clerk, discovered October 27, 2003 at 1088 Barona Road.
• Unknown found mid-December in the I-15/SR 52 area.