Winds abate in Southern California blazes

ELLIOT SPAGAT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
10-25-2007

Winds abate in Southern California blazes -- Firefighters get a breather; death toll remarkably low
By ELLIOT SPAGAT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Date: 10-25-2007, Thursday
Section: NEWS
Edtion: All Editions

SAN DIEGO — A merciful easing of the winds fueling Southern California's sprawling wildfires finally gave firefighters a chance to fight back against some blazes Wednesday, and weary residents could take solace in an overriding sign of hope: Just one person has died from the flames.

That contrasts to 22 dead from a fire of similar magnitude four years ago, and while the final toll has yet to be tallied from this week's fires, officials were crediting an automated, reverse 911 calling system that prompted the orderly evacuation of more than half a million people. That was 10 times the number evacuated four years ago.

"They are more determined that people leave," said Steve Levstik, who got his call 15 minutes before flames swept through his Rancho Bernardo neighborhood.

"It was very intense. On the call, it was like, 'This area, go! This area go!' In 2003 there was less guidance. It was like, 'Just pay attention to the news and if it looks bad, leave.' "

On Wednesday, winds dropped to 21 to 36 mph, considerably less than the fierce gusts of up to 100 mph that whipped fire zones earlier in the week.

The improving weather allowed for a greater aerial assault on the flames and helped firefighters beat back the most destructive blazes. Helicopters and air tank-ers dropped 30 to 35 loads of water on two fires that have burned hundreds of homes in the San Bernardino Mountains, near Lake Arrowhead.

"They're taking it down considerably," said Dennis Bouslaugh of the U.S. Forest Service.

Authorities said they had largely contained many of the fires north of San Diego, and all five fires in Los Angeles County were about 50 percent contained or more.

The death toll from the most recent blazes may rise as authorities return to neighborhoods where homes turned to piles of ash, but displaced homeowners and authorities were relieved that early reports were so low. The San Diego County medical examiner officially listed six deaths connected to the blazes, but he included five who died during the evacuation who were not directly killed by the fire. In 2003, all but a handful of the 22 dead succumbed to the flames.

In addition to the reverse-911 system, authorities also shut down schools, halted mail delivery and urged people to stay home if they were not in danger.

In 2003, only 50,000 people were evacuated in San Diego County. This week, more than 500,000 people were ordered to evacuate in San Diego County alone.

Despite Wednesday's progress, none of the six major blazes in San Diego County was more than 15 percent contained, and those fires threatened more than 8,500 houses.

The top priority was a fire in San Bernardino County that threatened 6,000 homes and continued to rage out of control.

Property damage has reached at least $1 billion in San Diego County alone. On Wednesday, about two dozen people gathered at a police barricade in Rancho Bernardo, which was one of the hardest-hit areas, hoping to retrieve medications and belongings — or simply to see if their homes were intact.

What awaited many was an apocalyptic scene: entire streets leveled, charred hulks of metal that once were cars sitting in driveways of homes with only chimneys left standing. House after house, 29 on one street alone, were reduced to piles of blackened concrete and twisted metal.

Six of San Diego County's 42 evacuation centers were full Wednesday but there was plenty of space at Qualcomm Stadium, home to the NFL Chargers, where 10,000 people sought refuge. People rested on cots that lined covered walkways circling the bleachers and quietly watched television as National Guard troops watched. There were no bathroom lines.

"One happy consequence" of the 2003 fires is that people remember that fire can be very unpredictable, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Wednesday in an interview.

"All but the most unlucky people can see the fire coming," he said. "There's no reason you should have loss of life, certainly for civilians."

The only confirmed death from the flames was Thomas Varshock, 52, of Tecate, a town on the U.S. side of the border southeast of San Diego, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said. Authorities had told him to evacuate, but he didn't leave and authorities left to take care of other evacuations, the medical examiner's office said.

Firefighters returned to save two people trapped at his home Sunday but were unable to rescue Varshock, said Rick Hutchinson, a deputy incident commander for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Four firefighters were overcome by flames. One was in critical condition Wednesday; another was in serious condition.

***

Tallying the damage

California wildfire overall statistics:

* Acreage: 431,377 (about 674 square miles).

* Homes destroyed: At least 1,447, according to individual county reports.

* Deaths: One fire death, five fire-related deaths.

* Injuries: 30 to civilians, 39 to firefighters.

***

Illustrations/Photos: 3 ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS;
Keywords: CALIFORNIA, FOREST, FIRE

Copyright 2007 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.
Winds abate in Southern California blazesELLIOT SPAGAT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
10-25-2007

Winds abate in Southern California blazes -- Firefighters get a breather; death toll remarkably low
By ELLIOT SPAGAT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Date: 10-25-2007, Thursday
Section: NEWS
Edtion: All Editions

SAN DIEGO — A merciful easing of the winds fueling Southern California's sprawling wildfires finally gave firefighters a chance to fight back against some blazes Wednesday, and weary residents could take solace in an overriding sign of hope: Just one person has died from the flames.

That contrasts to 22 dead from a fire of similar magnitude four years ago, and while the final toll has yet to be tallied from this week's fires, officials were crediting an automated, reverse 911 calling system that prompted the orderly evacuation of more than half a million people. That was 10 times the number evacuated four years ago.

"They are more determined that people leave," said Steve Levstik, who got his call 15 minutes before flames swept through his Rancho Bernardo neighborhood.

"It was very intense. On the call, it was like, 'This area, go! This area go!' In 2003 there was less guidance. It was like, 'Just pay attention to the news and if it looks bad, leave.' "

On Wednesday, winds dropped to 21 to 36 mph, considerably less than the fierce gusts of up to 100 mph that whipped fire zones earlier in the week.

The improving weather allowed for a greater aerial assault on the flames and helped firefighters beat back the most destructive blazes. Helicopters and air tank-ers dropped 30 to 35 loads of water on two fires that have burned hundreds of homes in the San Bernardino Mountains, near Lake Arrowhead.

"They're taking it down considerably," said Dennis Bouslaugh of the U.S. Forest Service.

Authorities said they had largely contained many of the fires north of San Diego, and all five fires in Los Angeles County were about 50 percent contained or more.

The death toll from the most recent blazes may rise as authorities return to neighborhoods where homes turned to piles of ash, but displaced homeowners and authorities were relieved that early reports were so low. The San Diego County medical examiner officially listed six deaths connected to the blazes, but he included five who died during the evacuation who were not directly killed by the fire. In 2003, all but a handful of the 22 dead succumbed to the flames.

In addition to the reverse-911 system, authorities also shut down schools, halted mail delivery and urged people to stay home if they were not in danger.

In 2003, only 50,000 people were evacuated in San Diego County. This week, more than 500,000 people were ordered to evacuate in San Diego County alone.

Despite Wednesday's progress, none of the six major blazes in San Diego County was more than 15 percent contained, and those fires threatened more than 8,500 houses.

The top priority was a fire in San Bernardino County that threatened 6,000 homes and continued to rage out of control.

Property damage has reached at least $1 billion in San Diego County alone. On Wednesday, about two dozen people gathered at a police barricade in Rancho Bernardo, which was one of the hardest-hit areas, hoping to retrieve medications and belongings — or simply to see if their homes were intact.

What awaited many was an apocalyptic scene: entire streets leveled, charred hulks of metal that once were cars sitting in driveways of homes with only chimneys left standing. House after house, 29 on one street alone, were reduced to piles of blackened concrete and twisted metal.

Six of San Diego County's 42 evacuation centers were full Wednesday but there was plenty of space at Qualcomm Stadium, home to the NFL Chargers, where 10,000 people sought refuge. People rested on cots that lined covered walkways circling the bleachers and quietly watched television as National Guard troops watched. There were no bathroom lines.

"One happy consequence" of the 2003 fires is that people remember that fire can be very unpredictable, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Wednesday in an interview.

"All but the most unlucky people can see the fire coming," he said. "There's no reason you should have loss of life, certainly for civilians."

The only confirmed death from the flames was Thomas Varshock, 52, of Tecate, a town on the U.S. side of the border southeast of San Diego, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said. Authorities had told him to evacuate, but he didn't leave and authorities left to take care of other evacuations, the medical examiner's office said.

Firefighters returned to save two people trapped at his home Sunday but were unable to rescue Varshock, said Rick Hutchinson, a deputy incident commander for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Four firefighters were overcome by flames. One was in critical condition Wednesday; another was in serious condition.

***

Tallying the damage

California wildfire overall statistics:

* Acreage: 431,377 (about 674 square miles).

* Homes destroyed: At least 1,447, according to individual county reports.

* Deaths: One fire death, five fire-related deaths.

* Injuries: 30 to civilians, 39 to firefighters.

***

Illustrations/Photos: 3 ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS;
Keywords: CALIFORNIA, FOREST, FIRE

Copyright 2007 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.
Winds abate in Southern California blazesELLIOT SPAGAT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
10-25-2007

Winds abate in Southern California blazes -- Firefighters get a breather; death toll remarkably low
By ELLIOT SPAGAT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Date: 10-25-2007, Thursday
Section: NEWS
Edtion: All Editions

SAN DIEGO — A merciful easing of the winds fueling Southern California's sprawling wildfires finally gave firefighters a chance to fight back against some blazes Wednesday, and weary residents could take solace in an overriding sign of hope: Just one person has died from the flames.

That contrasts to 22 dead from a fire of similar magnitude four years ago, and while the final toll has yet to be tallied from this week's fires, officials were crediting an automated, reverse 911 calling system that prompted the orderly evacuation of more than half a million people. That was 10 times the number evacuated four years ago.

"They are more determined that people leave," said Steve Levstik, who got his call 15 minutes before flames swept through his Rancho Bernardo neighborhood.

"It was very intense. On the call, it was like, 'This area, go! This area go!' In 2003 there was less guidance. It was like, 'Just pay attention to the news and if it looks bad, leave.' "

On Wednesday, winds dropped to 21 to 36 mph, considerably less than the fierce gusts of up to 100 mph that whipped fire zones earlier in the week.

The improving weather allowed for a greater aerial assault on the flames and helped firefighters beat back the most destructive blazes. Helicopters and air tank-ers dropped 30 to 35 loads of water on two fires that have burned hundreds of homes in the San Bernardino Mountains, near Lake Arrowhead.

"They're taking it down considerably," said Dennis Bouslaugh of the U.S. Forest Service.

Authorities said they had largely contained many of the fires north of San Diego, and all five fires in Los Angeles County were about 50 percent contained or more.

The death toll from the most recent blazes may rise as authorities return to neighborhoods where homes turned to piles of ash, but displaced homeowners and authorities were relieved that early reports were so low. The San Diego County medical examiner officially listed six deaths connected to the blazes, but he included five who died during the evacuation who were not directly killed by the fire. In 2003, all but a handful of the 22 dead succumbed to the flames.

In addition to the reverse-911 system, authorities also shut down schools, halted mail delivery and urged people to stay home if they were not in danger.

In 2003, only 50,000 people were evacuated in San Diego County. This week, more than 500,000 people were ordered to evacuate in San Diego County alone.

Despite Wednesday's progress, none of the six major blazes in San Diego County was more than 15 percent contained, and those fires threatened more than 8,500 houses.

The top priority was a fire in San Bernardino County that threatened 6,000 homes and continued to rage out of control.

Property damage has reached at least $1 billion in San Diego County alone. On Wednesday, about two dozen people gathered at a police barricade in Rancho Bernardo, which was one of the hardest-hit areas, hoping to retrieve medications and belongings — or simply to see if their homes were intact.

What awaited many was an apocalyptic scene: entire streets leveled, charred hulks of metal that once were cars sitting in driveways of homes with only chimneys left standing. House after house, 29 on one street alone, were reduced to piles of blackened concrete and twisted metal.

Six of San Diego County's 42 evacuation centers were full Wednesday but there was plenty of space at Qualcomm Stadium, home to the NFL Chargers, where 10,000 people sought refuge. People rested on cots that lined covered walkways circling the bleachers and quietly watched television as National Guard troops watched. There were no bathroom lines.

"One happy consequence" of the 2003 fires is that people remember that fire can be very unpredictable, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Wednesday in an interview.

"All but the most unlucky people can see the fire coming," he said. "There's no reason you should have loss of life, certainly for civilians."

The only confirmed death from the flames was Thomas Varshock, 52, of Tecate, a town on the U.S. side of the border southeast of San Diego, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said. Authorities had told him to evacuate, but he didn't leave and authorities left to take care of other evacuations, the medical examiner's office said.

Firefighters returned to save two people trapped at his home Sunday but were unable to rescue Varshock, said Rick Hutchinson, a deputy incident commander for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Four firefighters were overcome by flames. One was in critical condition Wednesday; another was in serious condition.

***

Tallying the damage

California wildfire overall statistics:

* Acreage: 431,377 (about 674 square miles).

* Homes destroyed: At least 1,447, according to individual county reports.

* Deaths: One fire death, five fire-related deaths.

* Injuries: 30 to civilians, 39 to firefighters.

***

Illustrations/Photos: 3 ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS;
Keywords: CALIFORNIA, FOREST, FIRE

Copyright 2007 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.
Winds abate in Southern California blazesELLIOT SPAGAT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
10-25-2007

Winds abate in Southern California blazes -- Firefighters get a breather; death toll remarkably low
By ELLIOT SPAGAT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Date: 10-25-2007, Thursday
Section: NEWS
Edtion: All Editions

SAN DIEGO — A merciful easing of the winds fueling Southern California's sprawling wildfires finally gave firefighters a chance to fight back against some blazes Wednesday, and weary residents could take solace in an overriding sign of hope: Just one person has died from the flames.

That contrasts to 22 dead from a fire of similar magnitude four years ago, and while the final toll has yet to be tallied from this week's fires, officials were crediting an automated, reverse 911 calling system that prompted the orderly evacuation of more than half a million people. That was 10 times the number evacuated four years ago.

"They are more determined that people leave," said Steve Levstik, who got his call 15 minutes before flames swept through his Rancho Bernardo neighborhood.

"It was very intense. On the call, it was like, 'This area, go! This area go!' In 2003 there was less guidance. It was like, 'Just pay attention to the news and if it looks bad, leave.' "

On Wednesday, winds dropped to 21 to 36 mph, considerably less than the fierce gusts of up to 100 mph that whipped fire zones earlier in the week.

The improving weather allowed for a greater aerial assault on the flames and helped firefighters beat back the most destructive blazes. Helicopters and air tank-ers dropped 30 to 35 loads of water on two fires that have burned hundreds of homes in the San Bernardino Mountains, near Lake Arrowhead.

"They're taking it down considerably," said Dennis Bouslaugh of the U.S. Forest Service.

Authorities said they had largely contained many of the fires north of San Diego, and all five fires in Los Angeles County were about 50 percent contained or more.

The death toll from the most recent blazes may rise as authorities return to neighborhoods where homes turned to piles of ash, but displaced homeowners and authorities were relieved that early reports were so low. The San Diego County medical examiner officially listed six deaths connected to the blazes, but he included five who died during the evacuation who were not directly killed by the fire. In 2003, all but a handful of the 22 dead succumbed to the flames.

In addition to the reverse-911 system, authorities also shut down schools, halted mail delivery and urged people to stay home if they were not in danger.

In 2003, only 50,000 people were evacuated in San Diego County. This week, more than 500,000 people were ordered to evacuate in San Diego County alone.

Despite Wednesday's progress, none of the six major blazes in San Diego County was more than 15 percent contained, and those fires threatened more than 8,500 houses.

The top priority was a fire in San Bernardino County that threatened 6,000 homes and continued to rage out of control.

Property damage has reached at least $1 billion in San Diego County alone. On Wednesday, about two dozen people gathered at a police barricade in Rancho Bernardo, which was one of the hardest-hit areas, hoping to retrieve medications and belongings — or simply to see if their homes were intact.

What awaited many was an apocalyptic scene: entire streets leveled, charred hulks of metal that once were cars sitting in driveways of homes with only chimneys left standing. House after house, 29 on one street alone, were reduced to piles of blackened concrete and twisted metal.

Six of San Diego County's 42 evacuation centers were full Wednesday but there was plenty of space at Qualcomm Stadium, home to the NFL Chargers, where 10,000 people sought refuge. People rested on cots that lined covered walkways circling the bleachers and quietly watched television as National Guard troops watched. There were no bathroom lines.

"One happy consequence" of the 2003 fires is that people remember that fire can be very unpredictable, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Wednesday in an interview.

"All but the most unlucky people can see the fire coming," he said. "There's no reason you should have loss of life, certainly for civilians."

The only confirmed death from the flames was Thomas Varshock, 52, of Tecate, a town on the U.S. side of the border southeast of San Diego, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said. Authorities had told him to evacuate, but he didn't leave and authorities left to take care of other evacuations, the medical examiner's office said.

Firefighters returned to save two people trapped at his home Sunday but were unable to rescue Varshock, said Rick Hutchinson, a deputy incident commander for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Four firefighters were overcome by flames. One was in critical condition Wednesday; another was in serious condition.

***

Tallying the damage

California wildfire overall statistics:

* Acreage: 431,377 (about 674 square miles).

* Homes destroyed: At least 1,447, according to individual county reports.

* Deaths: One fire death, five fire-related deaths.

* Injuries: 30 to civilians, 39 to firefighters.

***

Illustrations/Photos: 3 ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS;
Keywords: CALIFORNIA, FOREST, FIRE

Copyright 2007 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.