2007 San Diego Fires
From Bwtm
Contents |
effects on business
Wildfires lay waste to flower harvest, 1,630 acres believed to be in burn areas http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071027/news_1mi27flower.html
news
Tree removal credited for saving Palomar Mountain http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/11/19/news/top_stories/13_52_7511_18_07.txt
Hardly any fire victims sleeping at tent city. Churches of Christ banners are expected to arrive soon, Cremeans said. In the meantime, the only visible logo is Blackwater's. http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071110/news_1m10tent.html
Throng of out-of-towners took part in relief efforts, Red Cross spent millions accommodating nonresident volunteers during wildfires http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071110/news_6m10redcross.html
Survival tactics that worked http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/11/04/homes/17_58_1811_1_07.txt
When Katrina struck in August 2005, FEMA had only 36 contracting officers on staff. The agency now employs nearly 200 procurement professionals http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=38469&dcn=todaysnews
Extreme makeover, Spending the night at an evacuation site means a lesson in organization http://www.sdcitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/?id=6305
Ramona residents stream back to town http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10/27//news/top_stories//21_38_4810_26_07.txt
Ramonans home after irksome day at roadblock http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071026-9999-1n26ramona.html
Bush's visit cheers some, irks others, The president's motorcade delayed homecomings http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071026-9999-1n26bush.html
Aerial response delays blamed on Santa Ana winds, bad timing http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071026-9999-1n26aircraft.html
All six fire planes in the air over California http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/10/airforce_maffs_fires_071025/
As Calif. fires burned, copters grounded http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Wildfires_Grounded_Aircraft.html?source=mypi
a visibly upset Hunter said as he entered the center that state fire officials were refusing to OK the use of National Guard C-130 air tankers that were sitting on tarmac ready to go http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10/25/news/sandiego/5_01_5310_24_07.txt
CalFire tied up military pilots in red tape http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10/25/opinion/commentary/6_12_0810_25_07.txt
Bush to tour fire-ravaged areas today http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fires26oct26,0,3167574.story?coll=la-home-center
Bush has mastered the political response to the wildfires http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/24/AR2007102402617.html?hpid=topnews
Former fire chief defies order to evacuate home http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071025/news_1n25bowman.html
Exclusive homes emerge unscathed as fire-protection concept is tested http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071025/news_1n25stay.html
Criticism over issue of air support builds http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071025/news_1n25aircraft.html
Evacuation dissenters: Heroes in disguise? http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071025/news_1mi25jenkin1.html
Canyon dwellers not joining exodus, Illegal immigrants fear the exposure http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071025/news_7m25migrants.html
Nearby communities in Poway are worlds apart, One neighborhood razed; one untouched http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071025/news_1mi25poway.html
1 million fled fires? As the smoke clears, the numbers shrink http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-evacuation25oct25,0,6746893.story?coll=la-home-center
criticism
links
Bulldozer scar follows fire. In a side effect from the wildfires that threatens to leave a permanent environmental scar, a bulldozer line cut by firefighters through an open-space preserve knocked out part of a historic canal, a preserve supporter said Tuesday. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/11/21/news/top_stories/1_04_0911_20_07.txt
State details aerial response to California wildfires http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20071117-1839-ca-wildfires-groundedaircraft.html
privatized disaster services http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/110207E.shtml
Flaming the federal fire response http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/10/31/EDD7T3CIS.DTL
As the Smoke Clears in San Diego: Republicans Complain About Imagined Complainers http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/as_the_smoke_cl.html
'04 Calif report urged better cooperation with military in fires http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/30/state/n000202D54.DTL&type=politics
The fires next time: Hard lessons learned again http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10/29/perspective/11_04_4010_27_07.txt
Letters to the editor, October 27, 2007 Fighting about federal firefighting aircraft http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071027/news_lz1e27letters.html
Bush praises California response http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/bush-praises-california-response-2007-10-27.html
Katrina comparisons are a different class of wrong, So much is different, and so many people want to overlook the differences. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez26oct26,0,6570862.column?coll=la-home-center
Heed the insiders, Why state foresters fault U.S. wildfire policy http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071026/news_lz1ed26bottom.html
Blackwater in Potrero
The real story was a Potrero in need
I was stunned and mortified when I read the Oct. 30 story, “Potrero pulls together,” by Anne Krueger. When I spoke to her on Monday (Oct. 29), I presumed that she was in Potrero to gather information on the valiant efforts of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the volunteers who have been responsible for supporting the needs of Potrero, Tecate, and assisting Barrett and Dulzura residents.
Instead, she wrote a political piece that completely invalidated these people's efforts and barely touched on Ron Spinneit's loss, and ignored others whose losses were as great.
These days of tragedy and loss are not about Blackwater. Most of us have had no time for personal grudges, politics or recalls while we sought to help others or be helped.
Many of us are in the basest of survival modes and some of us don't know when we'll feel safe again or when life will return to “normal”.
I cannot and will not take credit for the incredible efforts that were ignored in the article. While the media was reporting that Potrero has been evacuated 100 percent, approximately 350 residents could not leave and needed assistance. The Potrero CERT and numerous volunteers achieved that.
I was not involved as a volunteer until Wednesday (Oct. 31) while the coordinated, dynamic CERT had become established.
I found out later that groups and individuals had gathered up food and supplies and tried to deliver them to Potrero but were turned away because the roads were closed. Why weren't they escorted through? Having had limited phone contact with phone lines down and cell towers damaged, many of us had no idea so much of an effort was being denied us. Although I have no control over the media and what is in print, I wish to extend my apologies to those wonderful people who were slighted or insulted by the article that appeared.
If anyone has anything they wish to donate to our area, or want to know what is needed, please contact the Potrero Volunteer Fire Department at 478-5900.
JAN HEDLUN Potrero Planning Group member
Blackwater's other side
Understandably, after the fires, Potrero residents were thankful for the supplies and food brought to them by a Blackwater employee driving a Hummer, like Santa in his sleigh.
Quite a contrast to the residents of Moyock, N.C., the hometown of Blackwater headquarters, who according to the Oct. 6 Union-Tribune article stated, “they fear if they are too critical of the company, it might retaliate. . . .”
Unfortunately, living near Blackwater training facilities is not like a scene from a Christmas story. The reality is that living near a simulated war zone training facility involves incessant gunfire, floodlights beaming at night, vehicles constantly patrolling streets, additional traffic, helicopters and more – disruption of quiet neighborhoods with citizens afraid to speak out.
KRISTY MUNDT El Cajon
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071108/news_lz2e8lets.html
defying evacuation orders, fighting on your own
Neighbors call him 'hero' for saving homes in fire http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071104/news_1n4hero.html
Son took huge risk but saved mother's home http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071028-9999-1n28barrett.html
He refused to leave, then got lucky, Rancho Bernardo resident -- and his new home -- survived the fire after he defied mandatory evacuation orders. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-standoff26oct26,0,3310190.story?coll=la-home-center
Good old boys fill gap in area fire protection http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071026/news_1mi26jenkins.html
“If they do not want to leave their home, it's their call,” said Jan Caldwell, Sheriff's Department spokeswoman. “If they don't want to go, it's not a crime.” http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071026/news_1n26behind.html
planes and choppers
Tanker a success, but some wonder why it hasn't been used before http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/11/06/news/californian/4_01_2211_5_07.txt
Grounded military helicopters blamed on lack of 'spotters' http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071103-9999-1n3looking.html
Why aerial attack didn't get off ground as planned http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071103-9999-1n3aircraft.html
A Navy chopper crew tackles a wildfire http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pilot27oct27,1,2845631.story?coll=la-headlines-california
Getting aircraft up and running is complex, Winds, bureaucracy delayed military aid http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071027/news_1n27aircraft.html
Hawaii Mars Flying Tanker http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=TimberWest%20(Flying%20Tankers)&distinct_entry=true
State calls in Mars flying boat to help fight south state fires, 60-year-old aircraft is expected to drop 'huge wet blanket' on wildfires http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7276500?nclick_check=1
