Poomacha Fire Update - Here is the latest update on the Poomacha fire as of 12:00 noon PST on 10-24 - The Poomacha and Witch fires have now officially merged into a combined burn area approaching 230,000 acres.
Firefighters made a gallant stand late yesterday on the slopes of Mount Palomar and saved the homes along Crestline Road. The Poomacha blaze made it four thousand feet up the slopes, an old-growth forest area devastated by the bark beetle that had not burned in 50 years.
Now the Poomacha fire is moving toward Palomar Mountain on the north side and the Cleveland National Forest on the east side. It has already burned 30,000 acres and the Witch fire has burned nearly 200,000 acres.
Reverse 911 calls to evacuate were made two hours ago to residents in Valley Center being threatened by the Poomacha Fire 3 miles east of Lake Wohlford Road.
At this time, the Poomacha fire is still 0% contained and has injured ten firefighters. The Pauma Valley fire has become a juggernaut that has resisted almost all attempts to control it.
There are 1,841 firefighters assigned to the Witch fire. It continues to move east threatening the communities of Julian and Pine Hills.
The Witch fire burned 80 homes in Poway and more than 500 homes, 100 businesses and 50 outbuildings have been destroyed overall by the blaze with 375 other structures damaged.
And that’s the latest news on the Poomacha fire update.
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October 24th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Update on the Palomar situation as of 1:30 pm PST on 10-24-2007
It’s getting worse, but firefighters are doing everything they can to save what they can at the top of Mount Palomar.
Firefighters are waging a house-to-house battle on top of Palomar Mountain to save structures on Crestline Drive, where most of its residents live.
As flames approach houses and cabins, fire crew rush in to put them out. Wind conditions are moderate now, and so far the strategy has succeeded in preventing a major property damage.
Fire officials, however, say increased winds would make the effort impossible.
Palomar has about 300 permanent and temporary residences.
Fires are also burning in Palomar State Park, a popular campground, although the extend of the damage there was uncertain.
South Grade Road, one of two routes up the mountain, is littered with downed and still-burning trees and branches.
Several homes have been destroyed near the bottom of South Grade, where the fire began climbing the mountain yesterday afternoon.
The flames on the mountain are from the Poomacha fire, which began as a house fire on the La Jolla Indian reservation.
October 24th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
[...] hitsusa wrote an interesting post today on Poomacha Fire UpdateHere’s a quick excerpt… homes in Poway and more than 500 homes, 100 businesses and 50 outbuildings have been destroyed overall by the blaze with 375 other structures damaged. And that’s the latest news on the Poomacha fire update. Tags: News, Web Site Traffic. [...]