Wednesday, October 31, 2007

High Octane Local Pride Art









Next time you pull in to fill up your tank at the new "retro" Mobile station take a minute to gawk at the progress being made on the local pride mural. You have to give the owner of this station credit for taking the extra effort to make this place nice. Most gas stations are dirty, corporate and have a hostile vibe. Not this one.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

More Stumps





More trees have been removed from the north Leucadia 101 corridor and the NCTD is planning on removing 7 large trees that are in the NCTD right of way (and beware the mysterious metal poll!).

Monday, October 29, 2007

Stamp of Approval







I'm digging the snazzy Leucadia stamps in the new sidewalks. I especially like the tree stamp. It didn't take our new sidewalks long to get dirty, but it's mostly ash from the fires.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Horses Inhaling Smoke


San Diego Witch Fire 2007, originally uploaded by vissago.



I received an e-mail from Dennis Cole today who remembered that in WWI they had gas mask for horses. The 40 odd thousand horses in San Diego county sure could have used them last week.



Welcome sign to San Pasqual on the way to the San Diego Wild Animal Park

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Random Fire Week Observations



Random observations about the San Diego wild fires (not necessarily all Leucadia related).



*Every time we get a good October swell and epic Santa Ana winds that groom the waves into absolute mind bending perfection, the whole event is ruined by air choking fires. People who did surf reported blindingly painful wind gust full of ash that was mixed into the offshore spray. Then, they spent that night hacking up a lung.



*Since everything that happens in the world is now dissected into Us vs Them and Redsox vs Yankees, the politicians and AM radio host wasted no time on saying that the fires are either A. Global Warming or B. left wing environmentalist (neither are too blame). It's a petty person that twist homes burning to the ground to suit their own little agendas.


"Gee, I hope they have clowns making balloon animals and free fish tacos."

*Speaking of AM radio screamers, many of them took great delight in trying to sublimely play the race card by comparing the evacuations of the Hurricane Katrina disaster at the Superdome to the polite and festive atmosphere at Qualcomm. But can driving your Lexus SUV to Qualcomm after receiving a reverse 9-11 call really compare to wading 2 miles in neck deep water with bodies floating by only to find no food or fresh water at the end of your journey?

*San Diego city attorney Mike Aguirre entered the Twilight Zone when he wanted to evacuate the ENTIRE city of San Diego to Phoenix, Arizona. Not only would this be logistically impossible but it was totally unnecessary. Maybe this was a plot by his La Raza roots to move the population of Tijuana into San Diego once all the yuppies left? SDUT story.

*I was listening KOGO600 one afternoon when host Roger Hedgecock had our congressman Brian Bilbray on the air and the first call from the public was a women who wanted them to send someone to fix the air conditioner in her motor home. Um, okay lady.

*An Encinitas man was seen vacuuming his grass after the fires to remove the ash. Turns out he has an artificial turf lawn. source

*If the winds hadn't died down and then switched direction I'm convinced the Rancho Santa Fe fire and/or the Del Dios fire would have burned all the to the beach and maybe even destroyed more than a few structures in Encinitas via airborne burning embers. I say this because my friend who lives on Requeza St actually had to stomp out a large burning ember that landed in his driveway, just missing his roof and a large pine tree. Yikes!



*Man, there are seriously thousands of horses in north county.

*Despite the mandatory Olivenhain and voluntary Village Park evacuations a surprising amount of people around Encinitas seemed to think that the fires were just something that was happening on teevee and were more than happy that they got the day off work and school. Has Encinitas become too much of a bubble from the rest of the world?

*Don't let your car gas tank get all the way down to empty because you never know when you will want to get out of Dodge in a hurry. The giant plume of smoke looming over the horizon on Monday morning sent hundreds of cars to the El Camino Real area gas stations at once causing gridlock and high tensions. Several gas stations finally enacted a 10 gallon limit in order to move the lines faster.


*The two smartest people I saw this week was A. The dudebro at Beacon's who was wearing a bandanna around his face to filter the smoke and ash which at the time was thick as a fog bank, only to pull it down to light a cigarette, and B. The lady who was jogging down Neptune Ave with her toddler in a jogger stroller despite health warnings of taking infants outside into the haze.

For hundreds of dramatic amatuer photos of the fires check out the Flickr photo pools: click here and here and here.

Live Music 2Nite in Leucadia


click image for large view

You've been cooped up in the house all week staying out of the smoke and watching teevee news 24/7. Time to shake out the cobwebs and go out for a little R&R. And, I bet you see girls dressed up as naughty kitty cats, nurses and devils.

Local Fire Recap


Click map for large view. Find Encinitas and then trace your finger east and think about if the winds had not changed...oh my!


The fire appears to be out in our area. The city of Encinitas has closed the Evacuation Center at the Community/Senior Center and deactivated the Emergency Operations Command.

We were VERY lucky that the wind changed. The fire hit Lake Hodges and went in two direction (north/west & south/west).

If the fire had continued along the Escondido Creek watershed it would have run through eastern Olivenhain and into the San Elijo Lagoon area. The south finger ran along the drainage area below Fairbanks Ranch and burned some houses in Rancho Santa Fe. It could have kept going to the area around Morgan Run and the Polo Grounds. What would have happened if it got into the center of RSF and then San Dieguito Park and Lomas Santa Fe?

The fire stopped a few miles from Encinitas but had been running so fast that it would have been a very short time before it hit the city limits.

Feel free to add any other info or changes to this post in the comments section.

Also, this SDUT story reports that the Encinitas poinsettia crop may be harmed by all the ash, click to read.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Local Fire Photos Part 3

These photos were sent in by Mike Honsberger. Thanks for sharing Mike!


Fire trucks lined up at hotel I-5 and Leucadia Blvd.


Meet the neigh-bors.


Smoke cloud over Trestles (surf beach near San Onofre nuclear power plant)


Tuesday 101 southbound - deserted


Tuesday morning looking south over Leucadia





Monday morning looking south over Leucadia.

Leucadia Blog: More Local Fire Photos

Thursday, October 25, 2007

More Local Fire Photos


The smoke from the devastating flames made for dramatic and beautiful sunsets. Beacon's Beach by Philip Hamer.


Evacuated horses at Glenn Park in Cardiff. Photo by Teresa Barth.


San Elijo/Chesterfield/Mars. Photo by Teresa Barth.

Leucadia Blog: Air PowerLeucadia Blog: Air Power

Air Power



Navy Helos Race From Harris Fire To Pendleton Fire Tuesday, 10-24-07, 5:10 PM

The View From Encinitas Best Western Evacuees Room, 211. Over Moonlight Beach.

Photo e-mailed in by reader Mike Andreen. Thanks Mike!

Click photo for larger view of the helicopters. You can also the ash slicks in the ocean and a nice glassy peeling lefthander (wave) in the lower right hand corner.

Bonus: Fox6.com has a story with a slideshow about the Ecke Ranch housing 60 evacuated horses and other members of the Ecke clan taking in over a dozen Alpacas and Lamas, dogs, snakes and guinea pigs. click here


Llamas or Alpacas?

Leucadia Blog: Horsies at Paul Ecke Central School

Horsies at Paul Ecke Central School



When I was a kid in the 70's people riding horses around town was a common site and I never gave it a second thought. In a way it's nice to see horses around town again, too bad they are all evacuees escaping flames. I hope these horses have a intact home to return to.

If anybody out there has any digital photos from the last few days they want to share feel free to e-mail them to me at funkyleucadian@gmail.com and I will post them up.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Leucadia Calm



Grandview Beach, Leucadia. Wednesday, October 24th 2007

Skies Clearing Over Encinitas



Wednesday morning sunrise. Much less smoke today. Looks like the little oasis of Encinitas will survive the horrible wildfires that plagued the rest of the county.

Thanks to city council person Teresa Barth for putting me on her e-mail list so I could post all the press release updates the last two days.

Have fun sweeping up ash today everyone. The news said not to use leaf blowers to clean up the ash and try to avoid hosing it into stormdrains.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Mandatory evac order for Olivenhein lifted


Tuesday late afternoon/early evening at Moonlight beach/Mars.


Mandatory evac order for Olivenhein lifted

The mandatory evacuation order in the eastern Encinitas community of Olivenhain has been lifted, Encinitas Fire Department chief Mark Muir said late Tuesday afternoon.

Muir said he lifted the evacuation order after touring wildland areas east of Encinitas and seeing that the fire that had threatened Olivenhain had been completely extinguished.


---- Adam Kaye, Staff Writer North County Times

*Television news is reporting at 10:30 pm that the Del Dios and Rancho Santa Fe fires are now moving east away from Encinitas.

Check out the Rancho Santa Fe Fire District website for good updates, click


EVACUATION ORDER LIFTED FOR OLIVENHAIN AREA
The mandatory evacuation for portions of the community of Olivenhain in the City of Encinitas has been lifted as of 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 23, 2007. The mandatory evacuation was issued the evening of October 22nd for the area east of Rancho Santa Fe Road and north of El Camino del Norte in the city limits. No other evacuation orders for Encinitas residents were established. The lifting of the mandatory evacuation order will allow residents to return to their homes.
There appears to be no immediate wild fire threat within the city limits at this time, but Encinitas Fire personnel continue to monitor the situation and the Encinitas EOC will remain open throughout the evening.
The temporary shelter at the Encinitas Senior and Community Center at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive will remain open until evacuees have left the site.
Information on other fires in San Diego County and other fire related information are posted on the San Diego County Emergency Homepage at: http://www.sdcountyemergency.com/

Evacuation lifted for part of Encinitas

The evacuation order for the Olivenhein area of Encinitas has been lifted as of 8 p.m. It is open to residents only. The National Guard is checking ID's at access points. Residents may also call the City of San Diego Community Access Phone at (619) 570-1070 for additional fire information.

Tuesday Afternoon Fire Updates


No new evacuations at this time

MEDIA RELEASE



October 23, 2007

3:30 p.m.

ENCINITAS SHELTER NO LONGER REQUIRES

DONATIONS OR VOLUNTEERS

Due to the generosity of the community, the emergency shelter at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center has received enough donated items to provide food and shelter for people who have evacuated to the site.



The City’s Parks and Recreation Department opened a shelter at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, on Monday October 22nd, in response to a Fire Department order to evacuate parts of the community of Olivenhain. The City was able to provide a basic shelter with food, drinks and restroom and the community responded to requests generously.



The City of Encinitas would like to thank all those who donated to the shelter and requests that no further donations are taken to the shelter. There is also no need for volunteers at the shelter at this time. Further donations can be directed to organizations that are still in need of assistance.

From NCT.com:

A mandatory evacuation order will remain in place in Olivenhain for at least one more day, Encinitas Fire Department Chief Mark Muir told the City Council Tuesday.

Firefighters have taken positions east of Olivenhain to defend brushy and wooded topography south of Escondido Creek, he said. If the fire were to enter the creek's drainage, it could spread quickly to Olivenhain, a rural community of east Encinitas.

Mandatory evacuations of Olivenhain were ordered at 8:30 p.m. Monday. The Army National Guard is operating roadblocks and sheriff's deputies are patrolling the community to protect property from looters, sheriff's Capt. Don Fowler said.

Some Olivenhain residents have found refuge at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive. The evacuation center will remain open for at least one more day, officials said.

Also, check out theSan Diego Fire Blog (frequent updates)

Below photo is of the ash slicks that covered the ocean this morning. Photo taken by Phil Sanchez at Beacon's Beach in Leucadia.

Olivenhain evacuation area map




city pdf

City of Encinitas website

*I'm having troubles uploading a large map. Try your luck with the city website.

FIRE UPDATE TUES OCT 23 10:30 a.m.

ENCINITAS FIRE UPDATE



As of 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007 the following information is current for the City of Encinitas:



* There are no fires burning within Encinitas city boundaries.



* A mandatory evacuation of Olivenhain, east of Rancho Santa Fe Road and north of El Camino Del Norte, is in effect. Residents of the impacted area should not return until directed to by Encinitas Fire Department.



* No further evacuations have been ordered at this time. The Encinitas Fire Department and San Diego County Sheriffs Department will notify residents of any changes in person or via Reverse 9-1-1.



* A shelter has been established at the Encinitas Senior and Community Center at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive. The shelter offers basic care and shelter including food, drinks and restroom facilities and evacuees are encouraged to bring their own bedding materials if possible.



* Donations of cots, face masks, new pillows and new blankets are needed at the Encinitas Senior and Community Center shelter site and can be dropped off at the shelter. Please do not call the center directly.



* Residents are asked to avoid using phones to prevent saturation of communication systems. Everyone is encouraged to remain indoors to avoid the effects of smoke inhalation. This is especially important for people with cardiac or respiratory problems.



####

Current Encinitas Fire Map





The thumbtack is Beacon's beach in Leucadia.
Google map with info icons.

By the way, if your house burns down it was because you hate America according to CNN's Glenn Beck, link.

Southern California Burns



Latest satellite image. Click for large view.

Monday, October 22, 2007

MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR COMMUNITY OF OLIVENHAIN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Encinitas EOC

October22, 2007

PHONE: (760) 944 5046 8:30 p.m.

MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR COMMUNITY OF OLIVENHAIN

A mandatory evacuation of Olivenhain, east of Rancho Santa Fe Road and north of El Camino Del Norte, has been ordered by Encinitas Fire Department. Reverse 9-1-1 notification has been requested through the San Diego County Sheriffs Department for residents in the area. No other evacuations for Encinitas residents have been ordered as of 8:30 p.m.



A shelter has been established at the Encinitas Senior and Community Center at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive. The shelter offers basic care and shelter including food, drinks and restroom facilities and evacuees are encouraged to bring their own bedding materials if possible.



If any further evacuation is necessary, the Encinitas Fire Department and San Diego County Sheriffs Department will be notifying residents in affected areas in person or via Reverse 9-1-1.

Fire Updates

CITY OF ENCINITAS MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Richard Phillips

October 22, 2007

PHONE: (760) 944 5046 2:30 p.m.

ENCINITAS ACTIVATES EOC IN RESPONSE TO FIRES

At approximately 10:25 a.m. today the City of Encinitas activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in response to fires in San Diego County. Currently, there are no fires burning within the City of Encinitas. This area includes the communities of Cardiff, Leucadia and Olivenhain.



A precautionary evacuation of Olivenhain, east of Rancho Santa Fe Road, has been ordered by Encinitas Fire Department. Residents in the affected areas have been notified by Reverse 9-1-1. No other evacuations have been ordered as of 2:30 p.m. A shelter has been established at the Encinitas Senior and Community Center at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive.



All Encinitas fire stations are staffed and additional personnel are on standby. The Fire Department is asking residents to stay at home and stay indoors. This is especially important for citizens with heart problems, asthma and those with breathing difficulties.



If any evacuation is necessary, the Fire Department and Sheriffs Department will be notifying residents in affected areas in person or via Reverse 9-1-1.

October 22, 2007
No further evacuations in Encinitas

From SDUT newsblog:

The city of Encinitas announced this evening that no further evacuation is needed. Earlier today, the city issued an advice for precautionary evacuation of Olivenhain east of Rancho Santa Fe Road.

A shelter has been established at the Encinitas Senior and Community Center at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive.

The Fire Department asks residents, especially those with heart and respiratory problems, to stay home and remain indoors.

If any evacuation is necessary, the Fire and Sheriff's departments will notify residents by telephone.
Posted by Angela Lau October 22, 2007 06:43 PM

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Update

The Encinitas Community/Senior Center has been opened as an Emergency Evacuation Center. We are offering basic care and shelter including food, drinks and restroom facilities. It now looks like we will be open through the night. We’d like to make it clear to all residents that we are a basic shelter; we do not have beds or cots and we are not equipped to give medical care or personal care. We will offer dinner and breakfast as well as pillows and blankets. We also have an area for small pets.

Angry Skies above Leucadia





The view from my roof this morning...