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Thursday, October 25, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #41: Facts about Firestorm 2007 in San Diego County

Since the wildfires scorching San Diego County are the utmost on my mind this week, I thought that I'd do my Thursday Thirteen on this topic:

Thirteen Facts About the San Diego County Wildfires of 2007


1. Property damage from this week's devastating Southern California wildfires has reached at least $1 billion.

2. The fires destroyed at least 1,500 homes.

3. Firestorm 2007 has triggered the largest evacuation in state history.

4. All schools have been closed for the remainder of the week. The San Diego Chargers have relocated to Phoenix, AZ, for practice. The fate of their game scheduled for Sunday is still uncertain.

5. President Bush signed a major disaster declaration for California. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged his support.

6. Wildfires that have now charred at least 427,000 acres. The largest "containment" percentage is 15 percent. Many other blazes are at 10 percent containment.

7. At least 500,000 people have been forced from their homes in San Diego County. Countless horses and other livestock have been relocated around the county.

8. One person was killed by the flames, and the San Diego medical examiner's office listed five other deaths as connected to the blazes. The deaths are primarily among the very elderly who were overcome during the evacuation effort.

9. Sixteen fires are currently burning from Malibu to the Mexican border. A couple of the fires have combined.

10. Winds decreased to between 21 and 36 mph, but fierce gusts of up to 100 mph whipped fire zones earlier in the week.

11. Planes and helicopters couldn’t fly because of the Santa Ana winds. By Wednesday, planes and helicopters were able to dump massive amounts of water and chemical retardants from the air to help combat the blazes.

12. Evacuation orders for parts of San Diego County were rescinded and residents were allowed to return to parts of Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Del Mar, Encinitas and Solana Beach. Still others await news of the conditions of their homes.

13. The Camp Pendleton fire is burning near the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. As a result, it’s shuttered for the immediate future, but the Nuclear Regulatory commission hasn’t declared any type of emergency at the station.


If you're interested in helping by making a financial contribution to the relief effort, you can contact the American Red Cross.

16 comments:

Ramses said...

Gosh you know lots about these dreadful fires... Tomorrow Mummy and family are going to the New Forest for the day, in 1976 when Mummy was very little she had to drive through a forest fire there - she can still remember the heat and being very scared! I'm glad we're safe here and hope no one else gets hurt by that big fire...

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

All of this is such a scary situation. Our hearts go out to all of those effected by this devastion.

Our purrs continue to go to all of those who continue to be impacted....
Abby

Daisy said...

This is very, very scairty and a terrible disaster. I am very glad you are safe, and I am purring for all those effected.

Queen Snickers, Empress and Princess Renna said...

Thanks for keeping us updated. Stay safe!

The Meezers or Billy said...

Stay safe Daisy Mae!!!

our mommy has been very impressed with how the reverse 911 system is working there.

Hot(M)BC said...

We'll send lotsa purrs to all the critters and beans. We's furry sad for them and our eyes are leakin.
Purrrrrrs,
Sanjee, Boni Maroni, Mini, Gree and Pepi

Mickey's Musings said...

Those are very sad facts especially since the fires are the result of arson.
I hope you are not affected and send lots of purrayers to all the cats and their beans, including you DaisyMae!!!

Unknown said...

The forest fires in California are so awful, I hope they get them under control soon.

Unknown said...

DMM and family,

we'll keep thinking about you and your families during this time. Praying for all those affected!

Captain Jack and Sir Dante said...

That makes us want to cry! Its just awful!! Puurrrsss!

Christine and FAZ said...

We are really hoping things get better very soon. FAZ

MaoMao said...

Oh Daisy Mae, the fires are so skeery and awful, and all of us Ballicai are purrin and purrayin for efurryone affeckted.

Big kittyhugs and purrs from MaoMao!

Anonymous said...

and now they found 2 people near Poway who refused to evacuate and died in the fire that destroyed their house. it's very very sad.

The Furry Fighter said...

boy o boy ise hope they stop burning soon! especially the one near the reactor. ise send my prayers and thoughts to all those affected and i hpe all my blogy friends in that area are ok xxxx

Boy said...

I hope all those fires stop soon! Purrs for evewy bean and kitty and animal out there affected by the fire.

Around Your Wrist said...

thanks for the info, dmm. it's good to know what's going on.

we really hope you're doing ok...and that all the smoke and air ickiness hasn't caused you too much trouble.