San Diego 2007 Wildfires - - Witch Fire

Last Updated: November 6, 2007 6:00 am
Date/Time Started: October 21, 2007 12:35 pm
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE/San Diego County Operational Area
County: San Diego County
Location: Witch Creek area, east of Ramona
Acres Burned: 197,990 acres (see map)
Structures Destroyed: 1,125 residential structures and 509 outbuildings were destroyed. 77 residential structures and 25 outbuildings were damaged.
Evacuations: Evacuations have been lifted. Highway 78 is closed from Ramon to Escondido due to fire damage.
Injuries: 40 firefighter injuries, 2 civilian fatalities
Cooperating Agencies: California Highway Patrol, San Diego County Sheriff, Red Cross, Animal Control, San Diego Police Department, Escondido Police Department, Escondido Police Department, San Diego Gas & Electric, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and various local fire agencies.
Total Fire Personnel: 224
Fire crews: 6 fire crews (4 CAL FIRE)
Engines: 25 engines (10 CAL FIRE)
Dozers: 1 bulldozer
Water tenders: 3 water tenders
Costs to date: $18 million
Major Incident Command Team: CAL FIRE Incident Command Team 10 in unified command with United States Forest Service and Heartland Fire Zone.
Conditions: The Witch Fire joined the Poomacha fire in the north.

Photo by Jen Soales

Early stages of Witch Fire (October 21, 2007)

Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune

Firefighter Mike Bashem sprays water on a home on Aguacate Way in Rancho Bernardo (October 22, 2007)

Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune

San Diego Fire helicopter drops water on a fire on Via Conejo between Lake Hodges and Escondido

(October 23, 2007)

Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune

Home burns in Rancho Bernardo (October 22, 2007)

Photo by Nelvin Cepeda/San Diego Union-Tribune

House engulfed by flames on Luz Place in Rancho Bernardo

Photo by Sandy Huffaker /Getty Images

Fire destoryed neighborhood in Rancho Bernardo

Photo by Shawn M. Hafffey/San Diego Union-Tribune

CDF helocpoter drops water on flames near Trailwind Road in Poway (October 22, 2007)

Photo by Peggy Peattie/San Diego Union-Tribune

Pre-dawn flare-up on Hillside north of Lake Hodges aling I-15 corridor (October 23, 2007)

Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune

Alameda County firefighter Ryan Agrella fights a fire on Via Conejo between Lake Hodges

and Escondido (October 23, 2007)

Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune

Camp Pendleton firefighters battle a blaze on Lake Drive on the edge of Lake Hodges

in Del Dios (October 23, 2007)

Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune

A firefighter runs by a home on Juniper Lane in Del Dios during a fire (October 23, 2007)

Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune

Charred homes line the hillside in an area north of Lake Hodges near Escondido (October 26, 2007)

Photo Credits:

Alfred, K.C. (2007). Select photographs of Witch Fire. San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2007 from SignOnSanDiego http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/northcounty?pages=12, 13, 14, 17, 19

Cepeda, N. (2007). Select photograph of Witch Fire. San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2007 from SignOnSanDiego http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/northcounty?page=17

Hafffey, S. (2007). Select photograph of Withc Fire. San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2007 from SignOnSanDiego http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/northcounty?page=16

Huffaker, S. (2007). Select photograph of Witch Fire. Guardian Unlimited. Retreived December 6, 2007 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2007

Peattie, P. (2007). Select photograph of Witch Fire. San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2007 from SignOnSanDiego http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/northcounty?page=15

Soales, J. (2007). Select photograph of Witch Fire. Yahoo News. Retreived December 6, 2007 from http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/ss/events/yw/112906photos_ywitnes