FIRE PLANES OVER DEERHORN...

FIRE PLANES OVER DEERHORN

Photo by Peter Dyke

Thanks to everyone who responded with information about all the planes over Deerhorn and Mother Grundy today.  I sent an Antler Alert, and hopefully put some folks at ease (I felt better, anyway!)  The planes were flying toward Barrett Lake, and one sharp resident mentioned they all had pontoons.

Battalion Chief John Kremensky said the planes were equipped with super scoops and filling up out of Barrett Lake for the Ridge Fire (near Buckman Springs and Hwy 8). Ridge Fire is under USFS jurisdiction, and the incident website is here:

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2541/  :

"A lightning storm in the afternoon of August 28 ignited a fire in the Buckman Springs area of the Descanso Ranger District in the south end of the Cleveland National Forest. The fire is 25 miles east of San Diego.The Ridge Fire is 120 acres and 40% contained. The fire is burning in 40-year-old chaparral with a high dead component. No road closures or evacuations are in effect, no structures are threatened.One firefighter was treated for a minor heat-related injury."

The photos below  by Gregg Grimaldo:

BARRETT WILDFIRE --

4:15 PM

Fire Crews accessing area from Chicken Ranch ("A" on map below)  on Round Potrero Rd., Potrero side of Barrett Lake.  No homes threatened, making extensive use of air support.

3:06 PM

CalFire reports fire has grown to 75-100 acres; 10 additional engines requested to assist the 7 engines, 11 fire crews, 4 water tenders, 6 air-tankers, 6 helicopters, 1 bulldozer, and 1 chief officer (250 firefighters) battling the blaze. Cal-Fire is being assisted U.S. Forest Service, and San Diego.

1:40 PM

 East County Magazine reported at 1:40 PM that a five-acre fire was burning just east of Barrett Lake.  

RELOCATING SQUIRRELS TO JAMUL??

True: The San Diego Zoo is relocating squirrels to areas near Jamul:

Wish they'd relocate ours.

LOST and LOOKING FOR HIS FAMILY...

UPDATE: FOUND & REUNITED WITH HIS PEOPLE!

"Luke" was reunited with his family last night!  Even though he didn't have a collar or tags
he had a microchip and we were able to track the owner down.
Happy ending for a beautiful, sweet, dog.  – Susie Trueblood

Thank you, Susie, for updating us all.  I think there would have been a line a mile long if this guy had gone unclaimed!
________________________
Susie Trueblood sent this photo of the dog who showed up at their place yesterday.  She says the dog has been a "delight" today.  We hope someone recognizes him.  You can call Rick or Susie at 468-3464.  They are happily dog-sitting tonight.

MEXICAN FIRE PHOTOS

That smoke plume was pretty impressive... and I'm sure I wasn't the only one with a knot in my stomach.  

Gregg Grimaldo snapped this photo looking east from his place up on Manzanita

Dan Connors sent it this screenshot from  activefiremaps.fs.fed.us, GOES satellite

Red line is 27 miles long and extends from fire to Deerhorn Valley

As of 3PM, 8/4/11

"VERY LARGE FIRE" IN MEXICO- 7 MI SOUTH OF BORDER

The large plume of smoke to the east is NOT the control burn advised by SD CalFire.  I was transferred to the SD Fire Authority by the 9-11 operator.  They told me that the the plume was from a "very large fire" burning in Mexico approximately 7 miles south of the border.  The smoke is clearly visible from the East Camera atop Lyons Peak.  It is on the left of the image, behind Tecate Peak: http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/cameras/LyonsPeak.htm
NOTE: The camera link has been very hard to load.  Below is a photo captured about 3:00 PM