How does the San Diego: Rice, Horno and Coronado wild fires stated ?

Question

THe Witch and the Harris Fire started first them 25 15 and 10 miles away from the main fires these fires broke up. THe Horno fire was a byproduct of the CAL firefighters starting a back fire that went out of hand. Was this the situation with the other two fires mentioned above?

Answer 1

I'm a San Diego North county resident my self and even thou in Google maps fires look close to each other in reality they are far from each other by miles.
People talk about amber moving for 10, 15, 20 even 35 miles away? That is simply ignorance and a fallacy. No ambers will travel more than a mile or two without getting stuck some where. Normally under 15 mph winds they can travel 100-600 feet. Santa Ana winds were in the ranges of 40- 50 mph not 70 that was up north in Malibu not San Diego and they are not exactly constant blow. Usually they sustain themselves for 10-15 minutes stop in erratic patterns and depending on topography (hills, flats valleys) so do the math people 50MPH for 15 minutes it will be only three miles at the most for an amber to travel if its light enough thinking it doesn't find any obstacles on the way. Most of the amber we've seen here are thick pieces of carbon they will not travel that far.

I think the policy of using "back fires" has been the biggest mistake for CAL fire and SDFD departments. The news is not able to catch all the firefighters activities but we saw in more than one occasion firefighters starting back fires in the middle of Santa Ana winds even in areas close to the Witch fire and a clearcase in Horno fire. BAD JUDGMENT on their part.
Also arsonists: people point at Mexicans starting fires but look this week was the voting on Health care for kids that the President wanted to veto. The California fires coincide with this legislation in the Congress. Was there any good political reasons for this fire to happen at the same time Congress was voting? Lift president's rating approval?
Anyway we need a comprehensive analysis of this situation to determine real not speculative causes and also look into the flaws and mistakes that were made by SDFD during the fire. Arsonism should be explored more in depth. So many fires so far from each other sprouting the thing was well planed to spread out thin firefighters resources. Is important to understand the controversy between north count fire chief (Horn)and east county fire chief for the past two years to understand this dilema.

Answer 2

I live in North County San Diego Ca. I agree a lot with what pink says, the Santa Ana winds were a biggie, low humidity was another big issue, lack of any decent rain for the past 9 years here in San Diego county. When you have winds that are gusting up to hurricane strength, that's all it takes. One spark and off starts another fire. The lack of moisture in the air was and still is a contributing factor. The wind definitely carried embers easily 25 miles, and that is how the fires were started. I too like Pink1957 have been extremely lucky we still have our home, but it has looked like a war zone around here, ash just follow from the sky, and to think that ash is someones home, a child's toy, someones animals, someones land, all of it is to much to take in. I have cleaned up the ash around my home, the sky is just now starting to look somewhat "normal" yet if you open the windows or go outside you can still smell the smoke. This has been a horrible thing to happen here or anywhere, I pray no one has to go through something like this again. So please pray for rain for us, we so need it. This is the first day I have been able to get on the computer since mid day Mon. due to the fires. God bless everyone who has cared enough to do the things Mike has mentioned.

Answer 3

Santa Ana winds, hot dry air, 3" of rain in a year sure helped. They haven't indicated that any of these were arson. It could be a simple as a "butt head" with a cigarette butt.

I haven't heard that any were caused by firefighters. I've watched the new pretty carefully since I was concerned that I might get evacuated. Thankfully we only HAVE really bad air quality. Smells like a camp fire!

Answer 4

I heard on the news that it was Arson. They have in custody, i think it was, three people. Investigators said that when they investigated the places the fires originated, there was not one thing there to spark a fire, so it to of been set by someone. They will not let out any more information then that. it's a shame if its true.

Answer 5

Many prayers have long gone up & God has heard the prayers. We now might desire to thank God for the human beings who're making a distinction & for the risk-free practices of folk who're caught in this undertaking. I thank God that their desires are taken care of with better than enouph & lots left over. That the insurance firms will pay the cost. That the government will pay however extra it is mandatory to reconstruct, etc... yet, i think of we'd desire to look into what we (US) might have finished to avert this in the 1st place. perhaps we weren't praying enouph forward of time. The Lord instructed me to no longer pray with regards to the fires, yet to desire for the human beings & their risk-free practices & well-being. additionally, thank God that there hasn't been better than 2 deaths popular so some distance. God is surely giving choose & protecting human beings by using this very difficult time. What the enemy has meant to destroy lives, the Lord has prevented many deaths.

Answer 6

A spark started the fires and the politicians created the bigger fires by throwing accusations against each other but never providing the right solutions.