76-598: The Witch Creek Fire , also known as the Witch Fire , was the second-largest wildfire of the 2007 California wildfire season , burning 197,990 acres (801 km) of land in San Diego County . Fanned by powerful Santa Ana winds , the Witch Creek Fire rapidly spread westward and consumed large portions of San Diego County. During its duration, flames reached 80 to 100 feet (24 to 30 m) high, and
152-525: A state of emergency in seven California counties where fires burned. President George W. Bush concurred and visited the region on Thursday, October 25, 2007. Rep. Duncan Hunter criticized state fire officials for delaying the use of Marine helicopters until CalFire spotters were in position to coordinate their efforts. However, California Fire Marshal Kate Dargan said that the Marines and officials at CalFire were following procedures worked out with
228-465: A state of emergency in seven California counties where fires burned. President George W. Bush concurred and visited the region on Thursday, October 25, 2007. Rep. Duncan Hunter criticized state fire officials for delaying the use of Marine helicopters until CalFire spotters were in position to coordinate their efforts. However, California Fire Marshal Kate Dargan said that the Marines and officials at CalFire were following procedures worked out with
304-498: A state of emergency in seven California counties where fires were burning. President George W. Bush concurred, and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts. Over 6,000 firefighters worked to fight the blazes; they were aided by units of the United States Armed Forces , United States National Guard , almost 3,000 prisoners convicted of non-violent crimes, and 60 firefighters from
380-852: A 500,000- volt power line from Arizona to San Diego. Power outages were reported in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and other counties on October 22 to 333,500 Southern California Edison customers, most being restored within 24 hours. The power outage also affected the areas of Ojai , Oxnard , Simi Valley , Santa Clarita , Thousand Oaks , Agoura Hills , Rialto , Fontana , San Bernardino , Rancho Cucamonga , Mira Loma , Hesperia , Corona , Bloomington , Irvine , Calimesa and Rubidoux . This outage also caused 230 people to be without power in Malibu . The California Independent System Operator Corp declared an energy transmission emergency in southern California on October 23, due to wildfires affecting
456-468: A half hours. During that afternoon, evacuations of Del Mar , Chula Vista , Poway , Del Mar Heights , and Scripps Ranch were lifted for many residents. That night, the town of Julian, California , was ordered to evacuate. Due to the fires, there was no power or phone service in the town. On Wednesday, October 24, the Santa Ana winds began to subside, and the prevailing winds shifted directions, with
532-477: A helicopter crash, and the second was killed in a bulldozer rollover. Below is a list of all fires that exceeded 1,000 acres (4.0 km ) during the 2007 fire season. The list is taken from CAL FIRE 's list of large fires. The October 2007 fires occurred following an extremely dry previous winter: in Los Angeles , with only 3.21 inches or 81.5 millimetres of rainfall between July 2006 and June 2007, it
608-846: A live rock and roll band performance. CERT teams, in various cities, received their first activation since the program's inception in this region. Trained volunteers provided assistance ranging from coordinating relief, to acting as a fire department auxiliary. Religious groups such as Victim Relief Ministries, Giving Children Hope, Hope Force International, Apostolic World Relief, and the Salvation Army responded by opening places of worship, donating supplies, and feeding workers and evacuees. The Department of Defense contributed twelve engines for firefighting efforts. The National Guard called more than 2,400 troops, with 17,000 available if needed; of which 100 California National Guard medical personnel provided medical assistance. Six crews from
684-453: A mooring mast and hangar were built at the camp for the dirigibles, but when the program was abandoned, the base was quiet again. By the time World War II began, Miramar was already undergoing a "precautionary" renovation. Camp Holcomb (later renamed Camp Elliott) was built on part of old Camp Kearny, to be used for U.S Marine Corps artillery and machine gun training. Camp Elliott became home to Fleet Marine Force Training Center, West Coast, and
760-487: A number of aviation accidents: On 30 January 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs dedicated a new National Cemetery at the northwest corner of MCAS Miramar. The cemetery is an extension of Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and when complete will accommodate approximately 235,000 deceased veterans and spouses. [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of
836-495: A power line, releasing sparks into the wind. The Witch Fire quickly spread to San Diego Country Estates , Ramona , Rancho Bernardo , Poway , and Escondido . From there, the fire jumped over Interstate 15 and continued west, causing significant damage in Lake Hodges , Del Dios , and Rancho Santa Fe . Strong Santa Ana winds pushed the fires west towards the coast. San Diego County Sheriff William B. Kolendar stated that
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#1732791824940912-472: A ranch on the site. It was Scripps who named the area Miramar, meaning "view of the sea". The land was predominantly used for grazing and farming into the early 20th century. During World War I , the U.S. Army acquired 12,721 acres (5,148 ha) of land in the Miramar Ranch area, on a mesa north of San Diego. Camp Kearny was opened on 18 January 1917 and was named after Stephen W. Kearny , who
988-632: A result of the fires. PM10 particles are small enough to enter deep into the lungs, and possibly the bloodstream. San Diego city attorney Michael Aguirre , citing concerns over weather conditions and air quality, urged the city to consider a voluntary evacuation of the entire city. Government agencies and volunteers worked together to mitigate the effects of the fires. According to the state of California's Consolidated Response web page, "There are 17 active fires in Southern California. The priority for fighting fires as of 19:30 on October 21 were
1064-493: A year-round threat, due to a mixture of perennial drought and the increasing number of homes built in canyons and on hillsides, surrounded by brush and forest. The fires had numerous sources. Several were triggered by power lines damaged by the high winds. One fire started when a semi-truck overturned. Another was suspected as having been deliberately caused; the suspect was shot and killed in flight by state authorities. A 10-year-old boy admitted that he accidentally started
1140-513: Is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing , which is the aviation element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force . It is located in Miramar , a community of San Diego, California , about 14 miles (23 km) north of downtown San Diego . The airfield has been named Mitscher Field since 1955, after Admiral M.A. Mitscher , who was the commander of Task Force 58 during World War II . The air station
1216-454: Is located near the center of the City of San Diego. It is surrounded on three sides by residential areas including Mira Mesa , Scripps Ranch , University City , Clairemont , and Tierrasanta . MCAS Miramar has a web site and phone number that people can call to register complaints about noise. To lessen the noise impact to the community, MCAS Miramar has made adjustments to their operations over
1292-587: Is the eighteenth-largest wildfire in modern California history, as well as the seventh-most destructive wildfire on record in California. The California Public Utilities Commission ruled that in the Witch and Guejito fires, along with the Rice Fire , San Diego Gas & Electric had not trimmed back trees as state law requires. The power line that caused the Witch fires shorted three times in three hours, but
1368-531: Is the former location of Pacific Fleet fighter and Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft ( F-4 Phantom II , F-14 Tomcat , E-2 Hawkeye ) and is best known as the former location of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS), its TOPGUN training program and the movie of the same name. In 1996, NFWS was relocated to Naval Air Station Fallon in western Nevada , 60 miles east of Reno, and merged into
1444-609: The 2nd Marine Division , charged with defending the California coast. Runways were constructed in 1940, and the 1st Marine Air Wing arrived on 21 December of that year. The Navy commissioned Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Camp Kearny in February 1943, specifically to train crews for the Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer , which was built less than 10 miles (16 km) away in San Diego. A month later,
1520-542: The Civil War era, although similar evacuation figures were cited for Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina . On November 6, 2007, the state of California reported that the fires were under control. On November 9, the last vole of wildfires were finally contained. According to the state's consolidated report on the fires, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger "called on the Blue Ribbon Task Force to assess
1596-535: The East Bay , near Stockton, where it impacted local weather. High-speed Santa Ana winds also rendered the use of dropping water from fire fighting aircraft inefficient: until such winds abate, most payloads of water are just dispersed by the wind over an area so large that the water evaporates before it can reach a large fire on the ground. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported, Santa Ana winds blowing up to 60 mph (97 km/h) combined with temperatures into
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#17327918249401672-592: The F-8 Crusader . That task was handed over to Light Photographic Squadron 63 (VFP-63) that then became "Crusader College" The first two operational Tomcat squadrons, VF-1 known as the "Wolfpack" and VF-2 known as the "Bounty Hunters," trained here before deploying aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in 1974. NAS Miramar was also the west coast E-2 squadrons home. VAW-110 the west coast fleet replacement squadron and fleet squadrons VAW-112, VAW-113, VAW-114 (disestablished 1995), VAW-116 and VAW-117. With
1748-610: The Fall 2007 California firestorm , which burned approximately 972,147 acres (about 3,934 km , or 1,520 mi ) of land from Santa Barbara County to the U.S.–Mexico border . At the peak of the wildfire activity in October 2007, the raging wildfires were visible from space. The wildfires killed a total of 17 people, with nine of them dying directly from the fires; 203 others were injured, including at least 124 firefighters . California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared
1824-514: The Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and Navy Reserve adversary squadron VFC-13 be relocated to NAS Fallon , Nevada. In 1999, MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin were closed and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing returned to Miramar when it officially became Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. On 1 October 1997, Colonel Thomas A. Caughlan became the first Marine commanding officer of MCAS Miramar since World War II. Caughlan
1900-527: The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC). During the heyday of TOPGUN at NAS Miramar, the station was nicknamed " Fightertown USA ". The base contains 23,116 acres (93.55 km ). It is bisected by Kearny Villa Road and Interstate 15 . The area east of Kearny Villa Road, called "East Miramar", is undeveloped and is used for military training. Miramar is recognized as the world's largest Master Jet Air Station. Kumeyaay Native Americans were
1976-401: The onshore flow blowing in from the west; this caused the Witch Creek Fire to reverse directions and begin burning eastward, ending the threat to the coastal communities. This also allowed the fire to burn previously unburned fuel (which was passed over during the initial rapid spread of the fire), threatening communities further east that had so far avoided the worst of the Witch Creek Fire. On
2052-546: The 1950s. The eastern half, former Camp Elliot , was used by the United States Air Force for Project Orion (having been transferred temporarily), and later by NASA ; it was the site of several launches. The base really came into its own during the Vietnam War . The Navy needed a school to train pilots in dog-fighting and in fleet air defense. In 1969, the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School
2128-536: The 90s to create in the worst possible fire conditions. At one point, swirling winds threatened to bring fire into densely populated urban areas. At the height of the Santa Ana winds on October 22, sustained wind speeds reached 90 mph (140 km/h), with wind gusts up to 112 mph (180 km/h) reported. On October 21, the Harris Fire damaged and disabled the Southwest Power Link ,
2204-559: The Ammo (Horno) Fire forced the closure of Interstate 5, as well as the Amtrak California Surfliner service between Oceanside and San Clemente . Traffic from Interstate 5 was being diverted to Interstate 15, which had reopened. The concentration of particulate matter 10 micrometers and smaller (designated PM10) reached unhealthy levels as a result of the fires. PM10 particles are small enough to enter deep into
2280-496: The Ammo Fire burned across the freeway; the Ammo Fire also forced the closures of the Amtrak California Surfliner service between Oceanside and San Clemente . These routes had previously been used to evacuate residents from the Witch Creek Fire areas. Traffic from Interstate 5 was diverted to Interstate 15, which had reopened since the portion of the Witch Creek Fire around Interstate 15 had been extinguished. That day, after
2356-695: The Buckweed Fire by playing with matches. The causes of the remaining fires remain under investigation. The last active fire of the October 2007 fires, the Harris Fire , was fully extinguished on November 16, 2007, about 27 days after the series of wildfires had begun to ignite. The October 2007 wildfires collectively caused over $ 2 billion in property damages. During the season, the National Interagency Fire Center reported that two firefighters were killed. One died in
Witch Fire - Misplaced Pages Continue
2432-652: The Buckweed, Witch, Harris, Canyon, Ranch, Santiago, and Sedgewick Fires." March Air Reserve Base is the primary staging area for relief supplies as coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency . With many businesses and schools closed, some people used their time off to help others. Officials estimated that 10,000 people were gathered at Qualcomm Stadium , the largest shelter point in San Diego. Besides food, blankets and water, volunteers provided toys for children, massages, and
2508-601: The Marines established Marine Corps Air Depot Camp Kearny, later renamed Marine Corps Air Depot Miramar, to avoid confusion with the Navy facility. The big Privateers proved too heavy for the asphalt concrete runway the Army had installed in 1936 and the longer runways built in 1940, so the Navy added two concrete runways in 1943. During the 1940s, both the Navy and the Marine Corps occupied Miramar. East Miramar (Camp Elliott)
2584-531: The Mexican cities of Tijuana and Tecate . The fires forced approximately 1,000,000 people to evacuate from their homes, becoming the largest evacuation in California's history. Major contributing factors to the extreme fire conditions were drought in Southern California, hot weather, and the unusually strong Santa Ana winds , with gusts reaching 112 mph (180 km/h). California's "fire season," which traditionally runs from June to October, has become
2660-410: The Navy offered NAS Miramar to San Diego for $ 1 and the city considered using the base to relocate its airport. But it was deemed at the time to be too far away from most residents and the offer was declined. Only the western half of Miramar's facilities were put to use; the old east station began to deteriorate, with many buildings sold as scrap. Miramar found new life as a Navy Master Jet Station in
2736-535: The Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 based at Naval Air Station North Island were assigned to battle the Witch Creek fire. They flew MH-60 Seahawk helicopters equipped with a 420-gallon water bucket and they were the only local Navy teams trained to fight fires from the air. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar contributed several aircraft as well as fire fighting trucks to operations based in Ramona. One of
2812-414: The Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 based at Naval Air Station North Island were assigned to battle the Witch Creek fire. They flew MH-60 Seahawk helicopters equipped with a 420-gallon water bucket and were the only local Navy teams trained to fight fires from the air. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar contributed several aircraft as well as fire fighting trucks to operations based in Ramona. One of
2888-738: The Poomacha Fire was fully contained, bringing the all the fires completely under control. By mid-morning on October 22, thousands of evacuees were taking shelter in Qualcomm Stadium and other locations throughout San Diego. That afternoon , the Marines evacuated some planes from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to other military bases in California and Arizona . The Navy moved all non-essential personnel from Naval Base San Diego barracks onto nearby vessels to accommodate refugees. The San Diego Wild Animal Park moved some animals to
2964-491: The San Diego County Proposition A proposed obtaining 3000 acres (12 km ) at MCAS Miramar to develop a commercial airport. The proposition was defeated 62 percent opposed to 38 percent in favor. Numerous noise complaints have been lodged against MCAS Miramar (and its predecessor, NAS Miramar) going back for decades funded partly by real estate developers (Pardee Construction Co). MCAS Miramar
3040-583: The Witch Creek Fire could be "well in excess of the Cedar Fire of 2003". While many coastal communities were evacuated as the fire moved west, the shifting winds prevented it from directly threatening those areas. By the evening of October 21, the Witch Creek Fire had expanded to 2,000 acres (8 km). On Monday, October 22, the Santa Ana winds peaked, reaching sustained wind speeds of 90 mph (140 km/h), with winds gusting up to 112 mph (180 km/h). The extremely powerful Santa Ana winds fanned
3116-489: The Witch Creek Fire, firefighters were unable to establish a fire perimeter around the younger fire, due to the fact that other larger fires had rendered available firefighters and equipment scarce for the Poomacha Fire. On October 25, the Witch Fire and the Poomacha Fire merged into one complex fire, with the two wildfires joining to the south of Palomar Mountain. By October 26, the Santa Ana winds had finally subsided and
Witch Fire - Misplaced Pages Continue
3192-554: The Witch Creek Fire. In less than an hour, the Witch Creek Fire caught up with the Guejito Fire to the west, and the two fires combined into a single, massive wildfire before dawn. With powerful Santa Ana winds gusting over 100 mph (160 km/h), the Witch Creek Fire then jumped over Interstate 15, rapidly burning into Rancho Bernardo . Residents located between the Del Dios Highway and State Route 56 along with
3268-524: The Witch Fire exhibited the characteristics of a firestorm at its height. On the morning of October 22, 2007, about a day after the Witch Creek Fire had ignited, residents of San Diego County were ordered to evacuate through the Reverse 911 system. Eventually, the Witch Creek Fire led to the evacuations of 500,000 people across San Diego County. It also contributed to mass evacuations across much of Southern California, which saw 1,000,000 residents evacuate,
3344-506: The change to MCAS Miramar, the training squadron was disestablished and moved to NAS Norfolk , Virginia. The fleet squadrons were moved to NAS Point Mugu , California. In 1993, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission recommended that MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin be closed down and that NAS Miramar be transferred to the Marine Corps. BRAC also recommended that all Navy Pacific Fleet F-14 aircraft and squadrons (with
3420-399: The crisis, sometimes staying at work in the fields within mandatory evacuation zones. Many had lived in the canyons nearby and distrusted officials. When fleeing the fires, some were arrested, while others were turned away from shelters due to lack of adequate identification. Some Mexican firefighters expressed concern about their countrymen, while others felt the migrant workers were aware of
3496-715: The evacuation of at least 500,000 people from over 346,000 homes in San Diego County. Evacuation sites in San Diego County included Qualcomm Stadium , Escondido High School , Mission Hills High School , Poway High School , Mira Mesa Senior High School , and the Del Mar Fairgrounds . Many major roads were also closed as a result of the fires and smoke. On October 22, the California Highway Patrol closed Interstate 15 in both directions between State Routes 78 and 56 . On October 24,
3572-544: The evacuation was not mandatory. The casino on the reservation was closed. By the end of October 22, the Witch Creek Fire had exploded to 145,000 acres (587 km) and was still rapidly expanding. At 3:13 a.m. on October 23, the Poomacha Fire was ignited in the La Jolla Indian Reservation in northeastern San Diego County. On the same day, the Poomacha Fire quickly exploded to 20,000 acres (81 km), with most of that growth occurring within one and
3648-579: The exception of those assigned to Carrier Air Wing 5 in Japan) and Pacific Fleet F-14 training be consolidated with the Atlantic Fleet and be relocated to NAS Oceana , Virginia. BRAC recommended that Pacific Fleet E-2C training be consolidated with Atlantic Fleet E-2C training at NAS Norfolk, that all Pacific Fleet E-2C aircraft and squadrons (with the exception of those assigned to Carrier Air Wing 5 in Japan) be relocated to NAS Point Mugu, and that
3724-524: The fires totaled $ 5.6 billion (equivalent to $ 8.2 billion in 2023), $ 2.4 billion (equivalent to $ 3.5 billion) after the utility settled 2,500 lawsuits for damages. The $ 379 million (equivalent to $ 557 million) it had sought to pass along to customers represented uninsured costs. 2007 California wildfires The 2007 California wildfire season saw at least 9,093 separate wildfires that charred 1,520,362 acres (6,152.69 km ) of land. Thirty of those wildfires were part of
3800-473: The first inhabitants in the vicinity of the base. Spain claimed the San Diego area in 1542 and colonized it beginning in 1769. In 1846, the crown issued a land grant that included the area of the current base to Don Santiago Argüello . After the American Civil War , the land was divided and sold to people such as Edward Scripps , a newspaper publisher from the eastern United States, who developed
3876-618: The larger airtankers , the Martin Mars , sent through a private contract from its home in Port Alberni, British Columbia on October 25, landing on Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, California . It has a 7,000 gallon capacity. Two other airtankers and their crews from Quebec worked on the fires, part of an annual three-month contract with the state of California. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared
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#17327918249403952-469: The larger airtankers , the 7,000-gallon Martin Mars , was sent through a private contract from its home in Port Alberni, British Columbia , on October 25, landing on Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, California . Two other airtankers and their crews from Quebec worked on the fires, part of an annual three-month contract with the state of California. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared
4028-554: The largest evacuation number in the history of California. By mid-morning on October 22, 2007, thousands of evacuees were taking shelter in Qualcomm Stadium and other locations throughout San Diego. On the afternoon of October 22, 2007, the Marines evacuated some planes from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to other military bases in California and Arizona . The Navy moved all non-essential personnel from Naval Base San Diego barracks onto nearby vessels to accommodate refugees. The San Diego Wild Animal Park moved some animals to
4104-658: The largest in Californian history. The Witch Fire caused at least $ 1.142 billion (equivalent to $ 1.678 billion in 2023) in insured damages alone, becoming the costliest wildfire of 2007. As of 2022, the Witch Fire is the nineteenth-largest wildfire in modern California history, as well as the seventh-most destructive wildfire on record in California. The Witch Creek Fire started in Witch Creek Canyon near Santa Ysabel , at 12:35 p.m. PDT on Sunday, October 21, 2007, after powerful Santa Ana winds blew down
4180-409: The lines. 500,000-, 230,000- and 138,000- volt lines were disabled in San Diego, and some lines in other areas were also disabled. 24,992 people lost power, due to the lack of power from the power grid . During the crisis, Mexico provided power to help augment the electrical needs of the San Diego area. Authorities have stated that the evacuations, which displaced more than 900,000 people, have been
4256-401: The lungs and possibly the bloodstream. San Diego city attorney Michael Aguirre , citing concerns over weather conditions and air quality, urged the city to consider a voluntary evacuation of the entire city. The Department of Defense contributed twelve engines for firefighting efforts. The California National Guard called more than 2,400 troops, with 17,000 soldiers on standby. Six crews from
4332-408: The military after serious problems with air coordination during the 2003 California wildfires. A total of 197,000 acres were burned by the Witch Fire. In addition, the fire killed two people, injured 40 firefighters, and destroyed 1,125 homes. The Witch Fire is estimated to have at least $ 1.142 billion (equivalent to $ 1.678 billion in 2023) in insured damages alone. As of 2022, the Witch Fire
4408-432: The military after serious problems with air coordination during the 2003 California wildfires. Other state officials also praised the federal response. Aaron McLear, a spokesman for Schwarzenegger, said the governor "is getting everything he needs from the federal government". NBC Nightly News reported that with the evacuations reaching about 950,000 people, this was the largest peacetime movement of Americans since
4484-659: The next steps to take at federal, state and local levels of government to prevent and fight future fires. Additionally, the Governor asked the task force to review the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Fire Commission’s recommendations, generated after the 2003 fires, to evaluate if the recommendations are still the best and most effective ways in preventing and fighting fires." Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Marine Corps Air Station Miramar ( MCAS Miramar ) ( IATA : NKX , ICAO : KNKX , FAA LID : NKX )
4560-508: The on-site animal hospital for their protection. The Horno Fire had charred 6,000 acres (24 km ) in Camp Pendleton by 4:00 A.M PDT, on October 24, 2007. It caused the closure of Interstate 5 and it also caused Amtrak California to stop Pacific Surfliner service between Oceanside and San Clemente . Traffic was being diverted to Interstate 15, which had itself been closed earlier. Illegal migrant workers were endangered by
4636-420: The on-site animal hospital for their protection. Both undocumented and legal migrant workers were endangered by the crisis, sometimes staying at work in the fields within mandatory evacuation zones. Many had lived in the canyons nearby and distrusted officials. When fleeing the fires, some were arrested, while others were turned away from shelters due to lack of adequate identification. The Witch Creek Fire forced
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#17327918249404712-601: The onshore flow had fully returned, slowing down the spread of the remaining wildfires and aiding firefighters in their efforts to contain them. On the same day, the Witch Fire merged with the contained McCoy Fire, which had previously burned 400 acres in the Pine Hills area, in eastern San Diego County. On November 6, the main portion of the Witch Creek Fire was 100% contained, although the Poomacha fire continued to burn near Palomar Mountain for another week. On November 13,
4788-529: The risks they were taking. Only a few cases of looting were documented. Six people were arrested for stealing supplies from Qualcomm stadium, another was arrested for theft after being found in possession of stolen goods in the Jamul fire area, and two were arrested near the Tecate border crossing. The concentration of particulate matter 10 micrometers and smaller (designated PM10) reached unhealthy levels as
4864-413: The same day, some of the evacuation orders in place for Rancho Bernardo , Rancho Peñasquitos , 4S Ranch , and other areas west of Rancho Bernardo were lifted, after the western part of the Witch Creek Fire was contained. However, the evacuation orders in place for eastern and northern Rancho Bernardo, around Lake Hodges , were still in place. The California Highway Patrol closed Interstate 5 , after
4940-422: The unincorporated area of Escondido were ordered to evacuate. A firefighter stated that the conditions they faced were "twice as bad" as the Cedar Fire in 2003, with firefighters separating houses into those that they could save and those that they couldn't. The Witch Creek Fire continued to race westward, and by that night, mandatory evacuation orders had been expanded westward to Escondido and Del Mar , all
5016-409: The utility did not cut power to it for six hours. In August 2017, administrative law judges S. Pat Tsen and Sasha Goldberg ruled that the utility did not reasonably manage its facilities and that the wildfires were not outside of its control. Therefore, they ruled that the utility could not pass its uninsured costs along to its ratepayers. The PUC agreed in early December in a 5–0 vote. Legal claims after
5092-534: The way up to the coast. A dispatch from the city of Del Mar's web site stated that all Del Mar residents had to evacuate Evacuations were also ordered for Scripps Ranch , specifically everything south of Scripps Poway Parkway, north of MCAS Miramar , east of Interstate 15, and west of Highway 67 . The Mesa Grande Indian Reservation was also evacuated due to the Witch Fire. Residents of the Barona Indian Reservation were advised to leave, though
5168-560: The wildfires in Southern California, causing many of the wildfires to rapidly expand westward. At 1:30 a.m. on October 22, the Guejito Fire ignited southeast of the San Diego Wild Animal Park , within the San Pasqual River drainage. By early morning, the Guejito Fire had expanded to Interstate 15 , forcing the closure of the freeway in both directions, which disrupted some evacuations from areas affected by
5244-423: The winds had reversed, the Witch Fire began approaching the nearby Poomacha Fire to the north, which was burning near Palomar Mountain , with firefighters and officials fearing that the two wildfires would soon merge. By this time, the Poomacha Fire had grown to 35,000 acres (142 km), and also began burning towards Palomar Mountain, to the north. Despite the fact that the Poomacha Fire was still much smaller than
5320-439: The years, including the use of hush-houses , limitations on engine run-ups, and modification to flight plans. In spite of efforts, noise complaints remain an issue in 2019. Flying and notable non-flying units based at MCAS Miramar: Marine Corps Installations – West 1st Marine Logistics Group 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Navy Personnel Command Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) There have been
5396-764: Was also the last commanding officer of MCAS Tustin. In 2005, the BRAC Commission directed instructor pilots and support personnel from Miramar to Eglin AFB in Florida, sufficient to stand up the Marine Corps' portion of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program (JSF) Training Site. This will lead to an eventual phasing out of fighter pilot training at Miramar by 2015 as the F/A-18 Hornets are retired. In 2006,
5472-493: Was closed on 20 October 1920. More than 1,200 buildings were demolished when the camp closed. Charles Lindbergh 's Spirit of St. Louis airplane was built in nearby San Diego. Lindbergh used the abandoned Camp Kearny parade field to practice landings and take-offs before making his historic solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. During the 1930s, the Navy briefly used the air base for helium dirigibles . In 1932,
5548-631: Was commander of the Army of the West during the Mexican–American War . The base was primarily used to train infantrymen on their way to the battlefields of Europe. During World War I, an airstrip was never built on the property, although Army and U.S. Navy aircraft from Naval Air Station North Island did land on the parade deck. Following the Armistice , the base was used to demobilize servicemen and
5624-635: Was established organizationally as part of VF-121 , which was then the F-4 Phantom Fleet Replacement Aviation Maintenance Personnel (FRAMP), which trained the maintainers who joined the fleet as qualified "Phantom Phixeres". In October 1972, Miramar welcomed the F-14 Tomcat and fighter squadron VF-124 , a former Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) tasked with the mission to train new Tomcat crews. Formerly, VF-124 had been training pilots in
5700-493: Was the driest “rain year” on record by 1.14 inches (29.0 mm). The record drought was exacerbated by the seasonal Santa Ana winds , blowing at an abnormally high strength. This combination of wind, heat, and dryness turned the chaparral into fire fuel. Officials believed that some of the fires generated their own winds, similar to the Oakland firestorm of 1991 . The effects of the smoke were felt as far away as Brentwood in
5776-562: Was used to train Marine artillery and armored personnel, while Navy and Marine Corps pilots trained on the western side. The bases were combined and designated Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in 1946. In 1947, the Marines moved to MCAS El Toro in Orange County, California , and Miramar was redesignated as NAAS Miramar (Naval Auxiliary Air Station Miramar). It became NAS Miramar (Naval Air Station Miramar) on 1 March 1952. In 1954,
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