Note: This fire’s conditions change rapidly. So do not rely on this report when deciding whether to try to return home. Check our Web site at www.valleycenter.com and my blog, which is linked to the Web site, for current info. Or call the VC fire station at 751-7600.
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Valley Center has been a relatively quiet area in the midst of the devastation that has been visited upon the rest of the county—devastation that is the worst fire in San Diego’s history, by several degrees of magnitude.
But that’s just relative. On any other week, and with any other fire, we would have been talking about “the” disaster in VC.
Note: We hope to publish a list of homes destroyed as such a list becomes available.
There were, however, apparently many homes that were destroyed or damaged in Pauma Valley and Rincon. Fires continued to burn in Pauma Valley, including the Pauma Indian Reservation and up the slopes of Palomar Mountain Wednesday afternoon. Hundreds of avocado and citrus trees were burning.
Reportedly some homes burned near Survival Systems off VC Road, although that business appears to be OK. Stagestop Liquor is also still standing.
And it is spite of the fact that VC hasn’t been hammered anything like it was four years ago thousands of Valleyites evacuated the town Tuesday. Over a thousand were holed up early in the week in the evacuation center at Valley Center High School and 400 tribal residents were housed at Harrah’s casino (see end of story).
Because it is built of steel the casino proved to be the ultimate safe shelter. Tribal members from the La Jolla reservation were housed there during the crisis as were about 280 customers and many hundreds of employees.
Valley View Casino has been providing local law enforcement officers, firefighters and other disaster response crews with food and safe shelter during the battle.
We do have one confirmed name for a resident whose house burned: longtime resident Max Mazzetti, who is in his 80s and has lived on Rincon most of his life.
But there are many more residents of Pauma and Rincon whose homes burned.
In Valley Center itself Fire District Pres. Mel Schuler Wednesday morning reported:
“They are feeling good about Yellow Brick and between Lake Wohlford and Woods Valley. There are some spot fires, but they are knocking them down,” he said.
A few structures were lost on the the Guejito, at the end of Old Wagon Wheel Road.
“A few sheds may have gone down but we haven’t got any information on structure loss in VC,” said Schuler.
Neither the middle school, nor any major structure in Valley Center burned down.
The fire did get over to the VC Fire Station 73 on N. Lake Wolhford Road & VC Road on Monday, but nothing major burned down.
PALOMAR MOUNTAIN
News from firefighters battling the blaze on Palomar Mountain has been spotty, but we did receive a confirmed report early Wednesday morning from Chief George Lucia (who is also fire marshal for VC Fire Protection District).
He reported: “The fire on Palomar Mountain continues to be dangerous and out of control.
“Yesterday [Tuesday] we did hold the fire from jumping State Park Road by pre treating the roadway (edges) with foam and back firing the road edges.
“But we continue to be at the mercy of the wind and low humidity.”
According to the chief’s report the fire was nearing the Palomar Christian Conference Center and the 6th Grade School.
It burned up the entire South Grade and jumped East grade into Crestline.
At the time of this writing, 700 CalFire and assorted agency firefighters were reinforcing crews up there and air attack planes were taking the fight to the enemy.
Mountain residents should not attempt to return to the mountain as the falling trees and rocks along with fast moving firestorms continue to occur without warning.
COMMAND CENTER
As darkness fell on Tuesday afternoon the state reaction team and command center set up at VC Community Hall.
A staging area was also set up on water district property across Lilac from the community center.
The team is now coordinating all of the fire-fighting activities in the area.
RETURNING HOME
The most commonly asked question is: “When can I return to my home?”
The short answer is that no one knows at this time. As of now they are not officially letting anyone back in.
But by the time you read this story authorities will be in a position to know when they may be able to start letting residents back in.
According to Schuler, that could be done by stages.
That would prevent thousands of people from flooding the roads all at the same time and hampering still very busy emergency vehicles.
Some owners of large agricultural businesses whose livelihood depend upon taking care of their groves are being allowed in. Have business cards ready so you can prove who you are.
MAIL DELIVERY
“I have not a clue!” said VC postmaster John C. Fuller this week when asked when mail delivery might resume.
“That decision is above me. I think law enforcement agencies would get very irritated at us if we were out making deliveries when they are trying to keep people off the streets.”
The post office is open and staffed with a skeleton crew, but the post master, John M. Fuller, noted that driving to VC to pick up your mail would be defeating the purpose of trying to keep the roads open.
Presumably the same applies to the Pauma and Palomar Mountain post offices.
NO SCHOOLS
Schools remain closed all this week throughout the county. They may begin to open next week once things calm down.
NO HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL
There will be no elementary school Halloween Carnival this Saturday. It may possibly be postponed for a week or two, according to Amy Archipov of the VC Teacher Parent Club.
LOCAL ASSISTANCE
CENTERS
The County is preparing to open three Local Assistance Centers (LAC) in unincorporated areas of the County affected by the fires. They will be in the communities of Fallbrook, Ramona, and Rancho San Diego. They are not yet open as these areas are still under mandatory evacuation orders.
LAC opening dates, locations and hours of operation will be announced once areas are deemed safe for reentry.
GUARDING AGAINST
LOOTERS
Lt. Sean Gerrity of the Valley Center Sheriff’s substation has deputy platoons patrolling various sectors watching for looting.
They are on the lookout for anyone who is not in a properly marked vehicle. They will stop you and ask for ID to make sure you have business in the area.
There are reportedly some National Guard units patrolling in the area, although we have not been able to confirm that.
AIR QUALITY
Air quality is still poor in Valley Center, although it was worse on Tuesday.
“I would call it poor,” said Schuler, who pointed out that you still get ashes falling from the sky occasionally.
The fire department continues to get offers from people who say they can bring horse trailers to evacuate large animals.
But the department would prefer that you not show up with a trailer. Rather you should call County Animal Control or the Humane Society and arrange things through them.
Contact the San Diego Humane Society online at www.sdhumane.org or call (619) 299-7012.
The Animal Rescue Hotline is being answered and people with livestock emergencies should call (619) 299-0871.
HARRAH’S CASINO REMAINS CLOSED
Harrah's Rincon Casino is closed for regular business until further notice.
The property is serving as an evacuation center for Rincon and La Jolla Reservation fire victims
At this time, 350 rooms are in use by evacuees, holdover guests, firefighters and employees who are helping with the emergency operation. There are also about 40-45 evacuees being sheltered in the Pavilion.
In addition to rooms, they are providing meals for firefighters (lunch yesterday, a hot dinner last night, hot breakfast this morning) and will continue to do so throughout the emergency.
Harrah’s Rincon also provided 30 mattresses and several cases of bottled water to the shelter located at Valley Center High School on Monday night, according to Sheryl Sebastian, spokesman.
In an extraordinary turn of events, on Sunday Valley Center-Pauma School Supt. Dr. Lou Obermeyer gave the go ahead for the high school to open its doors to the community and those in need of shelter.
As the American Red Crosses resources were extended beyond their capabilities, the Valley Center Pauma School District took matters into its own hands.
This even as the superintendent and her family were issued a mandatory evacuation.
“I am so proud of the staff,” said Ron McCowan, principal of the site chosen to host evacuees.
“From a logistics perspective we were able to quickly mobilize, setting a vast array of resources into motion to accommodate the needs of our community members.
“From providing hot coffee and a light continental style breakfast with muffins and fresh fruit to the cafeteria staff making 280 sandwiches for lunch, volunteering their time, efforts and energies to meet the needs of evacuees, the entire effort was impressive and heartwarming.”
The modest McCowan neglected to mention just how much appreciation the more than 1,000 evacuees at the center appreciated his efforts— especially when he met many of them as they arrived and offered them coffee and English muffins.
At 5:30 a.m., the recently purchased N. T. I. Contact-Ed phone system was activated by the school district, to notify all parents/guardians that school was canceled.
Within minutes mass communication directly from school officials utilizing all phone numbers on file from student personnel records to emergency contact cards were made from the system.
Text messages were sent to cellular telephones that were registered with officials. Originally, school was canceled only for Monday. However, it quickly developed that schools all over the county would be closing until firefighters got a handle on the growing crisis. Currently school openings are dependent on need, evacuations and air quality.
At the same time that the school automated phone system called parents, a similar system, the County’s “Reverse 911 System,” use for the first time in a general emergency, began to dial residents the Paradise Mountain area. It would eventually phone most of the residents in the Valley—not to mention many thousands of residents in the rest of the County.
Many are crediting the Reverse 911 system with preventing the same kind of loss of life as was experienced in the fires of 2003, almost exactly four years ago.
Skyline Mobile Home Park, located in the same Paradise Mountain area, went a step further.
The manager of the park posted on the Channel 2 TV station that provides information to the residents that evacuation was inevitable. The manager then proceeded through the park with a megaphone making announcements followed by sheriff’s deputies’ sirens and door-to-door notification.
“Skyline is a retirement community,” said Valerie Simmons, a resident of the park, who along with her mother, evacuated at 6:30 a.m.
“Our population is the elderly and informed. We only have one exit out and during the fires of 2003 we had a false sense of security.” she said.
“This time most residents were prepared Sunday night, so when the action call came early Monday, we were ready to move. I’m a little frustrated because this means I will miss my hair appointment and our annual ‘Twilight Golf Tournament / Winnie Roasting Party.’
“Being at the school location is a central place but where is the ‘Official Response?’ The volunteers are wonderful but no one is telling us what to do, where to go or how to even get there. We're just sitting. Well, some have a great game of bridge going on but the rest of us are waiting news any news.”
That theme was repeatedly echoed to The Roadrunner. “Thank God for the school and the volunteers,” said Jane Ingalsbe. “My mom, who is 88, is entertaining herself with her girlfriends playing bridge and chatting up a storm. We know we are safe from the fire and poor air quality but the flow of accurate information is very slow. I just wish we really knew what is going on.”
“I boarded my pets at Countryside Veterinary Clinic,” said Jan Hughes. “I was assured that they had cardboard crates and if evacuation happened the pets would be moved to a safe location. I will probably go home tonight (to sleep in her own bed).” However, the pets will stay at their ‘luxury resort.’
The American Red Cross usually chooses evacuation locations with the ability to accommodate 500-600, McCowan said.
The high school’s Ag area can board 12 horses, with RV and trailers parking available on the Oak Glen side of the school.
The band room was converted into a make shift kennel, with guests including six adorable golden retriever puppies.
Schools are also a logical place due to the storage and shower facilities of the locker rooms—so people can bathe if they want. McCowan added that they had emergency supplies on hand.
Valley Center Community Church had arrived early Monday morning to set up the Maxine’s “black box” as a full scale nursery, divided into rooms with toys, changing stations and entertainment designed for the under 7 age group.”
“We wanted a place that was both parent and kid friendly to help ease some of the trauma of being evacuated,” said Pastor John Sales.
It may look to many that Valley Center is no longer threatened by the fire, but officials have not yet given the all-clear for residents to return home.
And that’s more than just a formality. Thousands of cars flooding the strained roadways can create a real problem for emergency vehicles that are still going out to deal with a very real threat.
The authorities are keeping you out for a very good reason.
When the roads open again, they want to be able to do it permanently.
Your patience is undoubtedly appreciated by the CalFire and Valley Center Fire Protection District folks who are trying to protect the Valley.
The Valley Center Municipal Water District this week got word from the Metropolitan Water District that fluoridation will be delayed about a month, or until Dec. 3.
The Met is the large agency that sells water to all of Southern California.
According to Gary Arant, general manager at the water district, “Evidently they have had a problem with the piping for the system at the Skinner Plant only. Fluoridation will begin at the other MWD treatment plants starting on October 29, 2007, as originally planned.”
Fluoride is being added to the water of all districts that have more than 10,000 connections in accordance with state law.
As we did in 2003 in response to the Paradise Fire we will be setting up an Aid & Comfort section of the paper and our Web site/blog.
This column will be called “Roadrunner Aid & Comfort 2007.”
As we did in 2003, we are establishing a method for folks affected by the fire to let the community know about their needs and for the community to let folks who have needs know what people and organizations in the communities, as well as other locations, can offer.
To have entries placed on the “Roadrunner Aid and Comfort 2007” blog, just go to our website, www.valleycenter.com and click on the link.
If you have any questions, you can email editor@valleycenter.com.
Three VC boys were scheduled to become Eagle Scouts this weekend.
Tyler Kraft completed his Eagle Scout award in 2006 as a member of Troop 620 sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Valley Center. His Eagle project involved raising the funds for and placing 35 unknown gravemarkers at the Valley Center Cemetery. He has 8 family members buried at this cemetery. He gradated in 2006, and has been working until he goes on his 2 year mission for the church in Perth, Australia in November. He is 2nd in the family of 3 boys . He is the son of Don and Melody Kraft and grandson of George and Ruth Armstrong of Valley Center.
David Thompson completed his Eagle Scout award in August 2006 as a member of Crew 620 sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Valley Center. His Eagle project involved building raised-bed planter boxes at Lilac School for class agricultural projects. He graduated from Valley Center High School in 2006 and is now attending Brigham Young University in Provo, UT with a major in Industrial Design. David is a fourth generation Eagle Scout and joins his four brothers who also completed the rank of Eagle Scout.
Dan Eccles of Troop 620 has earned the Eagle Scout rank, the highest level in the Boy Scouts. Dan was ASB President at Valley Center High School during the 2006-7 school year, so he chose to do an Eagle Project to benefit his classmates. He planned and took charge of constructing two large planters on the Valley Center High School campus to provide shade trees and seating for students during the break and lunch periods. His project turned into a huge effort with workers donating 443 hours, and the value of materials and labor donated to the school was $8,600. Dan is now attending the University of California at Riverside as a freshman majoring in film and digital media. His parents are David and Sally Eccles of Valley Center.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
Copyright © 2007, Palomar Community Newspapers, dba Valley Roadrunner. All rights reserved. This content may not be archived, retransmitted, saved in a database, or used for any commercial purpose without the express written permission of the Valley Roadrunner.