Ramona Bulldogs' home's in danger.

ivfootball.com · Posted: 21 Oct 2007 09:32 PM Post subject: Ramona Bulldogs' home's in danger.

Ramona, surrounding area under mandatory evacuation

By: SARAH WILKINS - Staff Writer

NORTH COUNTY ---- The entire town of Ramona and the surrounding area was put under mandatory evacuation after a 5,000-acre wildfire fueled by Santa Ana winds burned on both sides of Highway 78 near Witch Creek Road and spread toward the town, leaving road closures, power outages and other problems in its path.
View A Slide Show

The blaze, dubbed the Witch Creek fire, was reported shortly before 1 p.m., has left Highway 78 closed between Old Julian Highway and Highway 79, and Highway 79 closed between Highway 78 and Highway 76, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Structures in the Witch Creek area ---- near the intersection of Highway 78 and Old Julian Highway ---- are immediately threatened, and several have burned, authorities said. The fire, which has crossed Highway 78 in several places, is burning west toward Ramona and the San Diego Country Estates area.

Sheriff's officials are issuing a mandatory evacuation for the Country Estates area from Rutherford to San Vincente and Black Canyon Road. The evacuation point is Steele Canyon High School, 12440 Campo Road, Spring Valley.

An evacuation center has also been established at Poway High School, 15500 Espola Road, sheriff's Lt. Phil Brust said.

The center, set up by the American Red Cross, will remain open "as long as there is a need" and could remain in place overnight, spokeswoman Gayle Falkenthal said. Lodging, food, drinks and basic health services will be provided, she said.

Evacuation points for large animals and livestock have also been set up at the Lakeside rodeo grounds, at Highway 67 and Magnolia Avenue in Lakeside, said Tammy Glenn, public information officer for the county. Meanwhile, an evacuation center for pets and smaller animals has been established by the Escondido Humane Society at Poway High School, she said.

For general information on animal services, call 211. For emergencies, call county animal services at 619-767-2675.

Also in the area, a motorcyclist was killed while riding on Wildcat Canyon Road, west of San Diego Country Estates. The collision was reported 5:46 p.m. when the motorcyclist crashed into rocks near Mile Marker 12.

Utility crews have also shut down power to 379 customers in Ramona, Santa Ysabel, San Diego Country Estates, the La Jolla Reservation and Mesa Grande, San Diego Gas & Electric reported.

"It's just to make it safe for firefighters and our folks," said Don Parent, spokesman for the company. "As soon as we check and make sure it's safe, we'll re-energize them."

The flames are whipped by 40 to 45 mph winds, with gusts reaching 70 mph, the National Weather Service reported. The gusts are too strong for firefighting aircraft to safely fly, said Battalion Chief Kelly Zombro, of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fire is burning between the areas burned by the 2003 Cedar fire, the 273,000-acre blaze that destroyed homes and took the life of one firefighter, Zombro said.

The fire has forked into two flanks, both of which are headed toward Ramona and have the potential to spread to Escondido, he said.

Firefighters are also working to douse a 14,000-acre fire that was reported this morning in East County, near Tecate. The Reverse 911 system has been used to notify 760 homes, authorities said. The fire is heading southwest toward Tecate, and residents on the U.S. side of the border have been required to evacuate. The fire has overrun Emory Road in the area and has crossed Highway 188.

Smoke from both of the fires could be seen as far away as Del Mar.

Information on the fires is available at www.sdcountyemergency.com. Residents can call 211 for non-emergency calls related to the fire. Cell phone calls should be directed to 858-300-1211.

For more information on road closures, visit cad.chp.ca.gov.