San Diego Fires Update #9

To Jann: I don't believe that 1215 Moreno Ave. in Lakeside is within the mandatory evacuation area but I cannot be certain, it is close. Wildcat Canyon Rd at Muth Valley Rd is one mile to the east and is evacuated. It is about 12 miles from the closest area of fire and has not been directly impacted by the fires. The evacuation center for Lakeside is Santana High School in Santee. The air is heavy with smoke. It would have been prudent for your father to relocate farther west where the air quality is better.

I believe Lakeside is safe. This looks like one of the precautionary evacuations. During the 2003 Cedar Fire, eight people were trapped and killed by the fires along the Wildcat Canyon Road trying to find a way out. This time the authorities have wanted to get people out of danger well before it has to be done in a panic.

From what I understand, the evacuation centers are doing an excellent job. They are being well supplied with food and water, Navy and Marine personnel, the Red Cross, area churches, and citizens have all been volunteering to assist and the people in the centers are helping each other. Compared to New Orleans after Katrina or San Diego during the Cedar Fire of 2003, we are seeing textbook examples of how to manage mass evacuations. I am impressed and that is hard to do.