Hazy Day

The sun is out now and we are surrounded by a thick gray haze.

I can tell the winds are picking up a bit because the ash all over the ground has been kicked around in swirly patterns.

Apparently the Federal gov't wants to get involved in the action. Alberto and I are not holding our breath. After watching what happened during Katrina, we are not comforted by talks of Chertoff coming to town. Brownie did the same thing and no good came from that....

Here are some of the latest posts:

Estimate of houses destroyed
Posted @ 9:16 AM
Fire officials now say that as many as 1,000 homes have beendestroyed by fire countywide.


Rancho Bernardo evacuation still in effect
Posted @ 8:54 AM

I-15 open in both directions
Posted @ 8:52 AM
The CHP and Caltrans report that Interstate 15 is now open in both directions through North County. Parts of the freeway had been closed until early this morning due to the fires.

Bush declares state of emergency
Posted @ 8:45 AM
President Bush declared a state of emergency in Southern California today in response to the raging wildfires and ordered federal officials to work with local authorities to bring aid to the fire-stricken region.
David Paulison, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said federal funds will be used to reimburse the state "for certain costs incurred under FEMA's Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (FMAG)."FEMA so far has approved at least seven requests for such grants. Under those grants, the federal relief agency pays for 75 percent of the state's eligible fire-fighting costs. Some of those expenses include the cost for equipment, supplies and traffic control.
Yesterday, FEMA opened a Joint Field Office in Pasadena to coordinatefederal, state and local efforts to bring aid to the region. Bush said he was sending Paulison and U.S. Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff to California to determine what other federal aid is needed to help battle the fires that have been burning in seven counties since the weekend.
Paulison and Chertoff were expected to arrive in Southern California later today.

Here's an update on the biggie:
Witch Creek fire update
Posted @ 7:47 AM
Here are the latest figures about the Witch Creek fire, according to CalFire:
* 164,000 acres. One percent contained.
* Seven firefighters and one civilian have been injured. Two additonal injuries were reported this morning - it is unknown as yet if they were firefighters or civilians.
*500 homes destroyed. 250 damaged.
*100 commercial properties destroyed, 75 damaged.
* 50 outbuildings destroyed, 50 damaged.

Winds are blowing south and south west at 10 t0 20 miles per hour.The temperature is 75 degrees, humidity is at 6 percent.

The fire is passing through several communites including parts of San Diego, Poway, Ramona, Lakeside, Valley Center, San Marcos, Rincon, Wildcat Canyon and Rancho Santa Fe, said Cal Fire Capt. Don Camp.

The fire is burning between Interstates 5 and 15 and is heading west towards the beach.

Some photos of the ash: