Witch Creek fire rips through Del Dios

By: PHILIP K. IRELAND and CRAIG TENBROECK - Staff Writer | Friday, October 26, 2007 3:46 PM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- Whipped by 40 mph Santa Ana winds, the Witch Creek fire burned more than a dozen homes along the north shore of Lake Hodges on Tuesday as firefighters from San Diego to Sacramento worked to slow its march to the sea.

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The Witch Creek fire, one of five fires burning in North County, destroyed at least 241,000 acres and 1,250 buildings, according to state fire officials. More than a half-million people have been evacuated from their homes ---- 10 times the 50,000 in the Cedar fire.

High above the lake, the sounds of exploding propane tanks mixed with crackling wood and the occasional crash of collapsing houses. The thwak-thwak-thwak of helicopters ferrying water from Lake Hodges to hilltop brush fires beat the air, reverberating down the canyons that crease the hilly terrain. The red flashing lights of firetrucks painted houses as they rolled from home to home.

A nervousness, combined with a grim sense of "business as usual" showed in the cautious steps of firefighters.

The battle for Del Dios began at dawn on a hill jutting out into Lake Hodges. From the lake's boat-launch parking lot, a line of fire a half-mile long was visible as it charged up the hill of head-high, bone-dry sage and chemise from the northwest. The flames, driven by eddies of wind spinning around the hill, created 100-foot-tall tornadolike chimneys of fire as they chewed through thick brush toward the ridge.

At the same time, another fire line charged up the east side.

Firefighters from Escondido and Alameda County waited in the middle atop the knoll, ready to beat back what they could and willing to give up what the fire demanded.

Homes in danger

More than 100 upscale homes dot the community along Via Loma Vista, a snaking private road off Via Rancho Parkway. The community sits some 300 feet above the lake.

Far out on the knoll at the end of Via Loma Vista, firefighters said they feared "getting pinched" ---- cut off from the lone escape route ---- by the two opposing fires.

"The captain's being very cautious," one firefighter said.

Escondido fire Capt. Doug Boyer said he and his men would make some hard decisions in the hours to come.

"Some of (these homes) are defensible, and some are not, so were going to have to pick," Boyer said.

They would spend energy, water and firefighting foam on homes cleared of brush on all sides and without woodpiles and overgrown shrubs and trees, he said.

By late morning, fire turned two homes at the end of Via Loma Vista to smoking ash and dust. On the hill's east side, firefighters lost six homes on Via Valle Vista, and one at the end of Via Pravada.

Meanwhile, a finger of the fire that burned Via Loma Vista swept east, consuming stands of towering eucalyptus and live oaks as it burned toward the wooded community of Del Dios, a narrow strip of 1950s-era lake houses popular with artists, woodworkers and glass blowers between Lake Hodges and Del Dios Highway.

Several eucalyptus trees exploded as the trees' oil, superheated by fire, burst into fiery rains of flaming oil.

The fire jumped Lake Drive and into Del Dios with separate fingers running uphill toward Ash Street and westward toward Elm Street. Fed by large live oaks and undergrowth, the Ash Street finger crossed Lake Drive, and claimed at least two homes at Ash Street and Lookout Lane.

The other finger of fire spared the Del Dios Country Store but burned four homes along Lake Drive between Elm Street and Laurel Lane. Burning westward, the fire claimed another half-dozen homes before jumping Del Dios Highway.

A series of distant explosions ---- in all likelihood propane tanks ----- were heard as the fire raced through the Del Dios neighborhood.

'Just like a match'

Later in the afternoon, five federal helicopters dropped water on the ridgelines north of Lake Hodges as fire bulldozers cut a 20-foot fire line through the brush.

To the west in Rancho Santa Fe, firefighters roamed twisting streets, protecting the wealthy neighborhood from sudden spot fires. One civilian, Wes Bartow, 37, used a hose to defend his parents' yard from a flaming mulch pile until help arrived. A sprinkler chattered away on the roof.

"It's just like a match," marvelled Steve Hansen, a firefighter from El Dorado County, as a pine tree burst into a fireball.

In an early morning briefing along Via de la Valle, Kevin Wegener, leader of a 20-member strike team from Placer County, said the fire wasn't pushing forward as a solid wall, but was hopping around as embers caught dry brush.

"You go check a house down here and it will be fine," Wegener said. "You come back 10 minutes later, and the roof is on fire."

Several hilltop homes along Zumaque Street had been reduced to ash and rubble, with water still spitting from ravaged plumbing. Others, just yards away, had been spared.

Near the husk of one home, blacked apples still clung to charred branches. And the headlights on an abandoned Porsche had melted into opaque globs.

In the early afternoon, a handful of residents who had evacuated the previous day clustered against barricades at Rancho Santa Fe Road and Camino del Norte in Olivenhain, which blocked access to their neighborhood.

Law enforcement officers turned dozens of cars away ---- only those with medical emergencies were allowed past. One sheriff's deputy had scribbled "No Means No!" on his paper face mask.

Just inside the barricade, Noel Jones, 26, was perched on his parents' roof, dousing the cedar shake with a garden hose.

With a bandana tied around his neck, Noel's father, Tom, 53, turned to his wife, Johnna, 53, and quipped: "I know what you can give me for Christmas, honey. A tile roof."

Contact Philip K. Ireland at (760) 901-4043 or pireland@nctimes.com.

34 comment(s)[-]Go to Top

Scott F. wrote on Oct 24, 2007 3:18 AM:Mobile home parks north of Del Dios area and Via Rancho prkwy? Specifically Casa de Amigos. I haven't seen any damage reports about the mobile home parks vicinity of valley pkwy and citracado. My mom evacuated her trailer; just trying see if the mobile home parks got any damage.

Jose wrote on Oct 24, 2007 7:48 AM:I live right behind the mobile home park in the Archstone and everything is all clear. The last I checked the fire was held of via rancho pkwy.

KJ Simon wrote on Oct 24, 2007 7:53 AM:Is there any word on Wyndemere Estates off North Broadway in Escondido?

jonesy wrote on Oct 24, 2007 9:11 AM:Message from someone who stayed behind (not me)3200 block of purer road still safe. FD aircraft making water drops at Via Valente, which runs off Purer.

Ryan wrote on Oct 24, 2007 10:02 AM:Purer road seems to be fine, drove down there this morning, but one house at the very end may have burned. Vista De La Cresta and the rest of the branch roads off of Purer all seem to be fine. Just a few hot spots left, fire dept. has a truck patrolling. The flare up on the end of Via Valente is out.

kent wrote on Oct 24, 2007 10:14 AM:anything on summercreek?..did the fire make it up that far?

angel wrote on Oct 24, 2007 10:58 AM:Does anyone know if Summercreek subdivision is allowed back to their homes? Is it out of danger yet? This is on southwest escondido and northeast of Lake hodges about 3 minutes away

Susan wrote on Oct 24, 2007 11:07 AM:We lived in Summercreek too..we stopped by last night...the road from Valley Park Way are blocked... The ploice said the fire is contained.

jonesy wrote on Oct 24, 2007 11:08 AM:Thanks Ryan for the update on Purer and streets off it. You said you drove down the road, have the opened the area up?

Ryan wrote on Oct 24, 2007 12:35 PM:Purer and surrounding area is still closed as far as I know, we stayed and fought the fire as it rolled through. Seems like everything is pretty well out, I'll make another run down Purer and maybe see if the area is going to be open soon. Summer Creek seems to be fine, it doesn't look like the fire made it that far. It looks like there is something on the east side of Bernardo Mountain still burning, but hard to tell from here.

Cee wrote on Oct 24, 2007 1:12 PM: Anyone know about Bermuda Lane Mobil Home park in Escondido? Cee

meridith wrote on Oct 24, 2007 1:23 PM:Ryan, if you take another trip down Purer, could you double check on the house at the end? I believe that's my in-laws' house. They have a bunch of corrals and such. Their prior house burned down in 2003 when they lived in julian.

Ryan wrote on Oct 24, 2007 1:30 PM:Fallow up on Purer Road, Just drove to the end, there is one house burned on the end of Purer, I could not get a positive address as the wooden fence that it must have been posted on was burned. By guess work I would say it is 3820 Purer, but that is not certain at all. That is the only house in the Purer Rd Complex that has burned as far as I can tell. All the houses I can see from Purer on the west side of Via Loma Vista seem to be fine. Del Dios looks like the fire hopscotched it's way through, can't tell whats burned or not. The area is still closed, and they are not letting anyone in.

Jennifer wrote on Oct 24, 2007 1:34 PM:Has anyone heard about homes on Date Lane in Del Dios?

Jane wrote on Oct 24, 2007 1:56 PM:Any information on the Lomas Serenas subdivision in Escondido? It is south of Via Rancho and north of Lake Hodges.

Ryan wrote on Oct 24, 2007 3:40 PM:Don't know to much about Lomas Serenas... from talking to the fire fighters and police it seems that a number of houses there burned, not sure how many. I'll see if I can get over to Del Dios and get addresses of what has burned, I talked with a neighbor that had made it over there, and he said the fire had burned a lot of homes. The area is still closed, but some people are getting through the unmanned barricades. but they are patrolling for looters, the Police officer we talked to had two national guardsmen with him.

Tim wrote on Oct 24, 2007 3:47 PM:any news on area at Citrus and Valley parkway, hidden trails rd??? thx all, God bless

john wrote on Oct 24, 2007 4:47 PM:From a friend of mine who surveyed Del Dios: "Most homes south of Maple are okay -- there may be one or two exceptions. Date street near Lake Drive seems to be mostly okay. There are some problems on Elm and Beech and Ash. The yellow structures north of Ash are gone. Perhaps 15 to 20 homes are lost throughout Del Dios. This was the area hardest hit around Lake Hodges. Via Loma Vista area (side streets) lost about 18 homes. Via Valle Vista was hit hard. The oaks in the S curve going uphill towards Via Rancho Parkway are burned. Some oaks will recover from fires within six months to two years. Everything around Hernandez is okay. Country Store is okay. Lots of tree and shrub damage across Lake drive along the lake. That will take some time to recover. Our deep condolences to those who suffered losses. GOOD news -- we are not aware of any injuries to anyone."

Larry wrote on Oct 24, 2007 5:38 PM:Ryan, When you went down Purer towards Lake Hodges, was the burned house at the end of the street on the left or right side of the road? (West side or east side)

Partial Damage List wrote on Oct 24, 2007 5:48 PM:Partial List of Damaged or Destroyed Houses in Del Dios (source = RSF FD): 20024 1st and Kalmia Lane 2nd and Kalmia Lane (2 houses, no number) 9732 4th and Kalmia Lane 4th and Juniper Lane (no number), travel trailer, temporary shed 9727 4th and Juniper Lane 9728 Juniper Lane

Del Dios Damage List: wrote on Oct 24, 2007 6:16 PM:More Addresses from various sources: 10015 Lake Drive 20116 Lake Drive 20024 LAKE DR UNINCORPORATED, 92029 20264 LAKE DR UNINCORPORATED, 92029 20278 LAKE DR UNINCORPORATED, 92029 20057 3RD PL UNINCORPORATED, 92029 20110 3RD PL UNINCORPORATED, 92029 20134 1ST PL UNINCORPORATED, 92029 20215 BEECH LN UNINCORPORATED, 92029 20227 ASH LN UNINCORPORATED, 92029 20232 ASH LN UNINCORPORATED, 92029 9766 JUNIPER LN UNINCORPORATED, 92029

Kris wrote on Oct 24, 2007 6:54 PM:Scott...Casa de Amigos mobile home park is fine. My mom lives there also and she was evacuated on Monday morning..but she wanted to go back home today. Most everyone is back there now. It is still considered a evacuation zone...but they have the fire contained.

Ryan wrote on Oct 24, 2007 7:18 PM:The burned house on the very end of Purer Rd, is to the left or east of the road. Just to the east and a little north of the burned house is a horse corral, and just east of the house and corral is a dirt road going down into some oak trees. it looked like there was a wooden fence between the house and Purer road before it was burned.

Janet wrote on Oct 24, 2007 7:56 PM:Does any one know about the Mt. Israel area? Also in Del Dios my address is(or was) 20115 2nd Place on the corner of 2nd and Juniper. Is it still there???

Wendy wrote on Oct 24, 2007 8:18 PM:Since Monday, I have been checking cbs8.com's list of houses to see how my sister's house was in Del Dias. Even though I was informed that it was gone, I would not allow myself to really believe it. I have just seen her address. Her home and the family heirlooms ARE truly no more. I live on an island off of the East Coast, but I spent a wonderful time this spring in Del Dias. Thank you for the in print info.

Loreen wrote on Oct 24, 2007 8:34 PM:Does anyone know where the firefighters were from that saved the area around Sans Souci and the houses near 1563 W. Via Rancho Pakway? We want to thank them for saving our house.

Ryan wrote on Oct 24, 2007 9:51 PM:As far as I can see from here, Mt Israel seems to be ok. no visible houses burned. I think the fire fighters that defended San Souci were from Santa Cruz, but the choppers and the dozer they ran through there, were critical in saving it.

mare wrote on Oct 25, 2007 12:07 AM:maps of the fires can be viewed on goggle http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&ie=UTF8&om=1&msa=0&msid=114250687465160386813.00043d08ac31fe3357571&ll=32.990236,-116.732483&spn=1.105782,1.757813&z=9&mid=1193110631

Cassandra wrote on Oct 25, 2007 8:46 AM:Is the fire near bear valley parkway I have a 11 year old son who lives their with his dad and I have not heard from him.The last I heard witch fire was the worst .

Janet wrote on Oct 25, 2007 10:01 AM:Still trying to find out if my home on the corner of Juniper Lane and 2nd Place still stands. 20115 2nd Place. Also how can my tenants get back in if the house is still there? They are due to have a baby today and would like to get their crib and stuff out if it is still there. Thanks for any help.

Kim wrote on Oct 25, 2007 9:05 PM:Janet! It's Kim and Brian here! Last I heard your house and Veronica and Scott's is ok. Russ and ours is ok. Tom's by the mailboxes is mostly ok. Sid and Jerry's burned along with Jewels whole place and my mom and dad's house, among many others. Sam's big compound on the other side of your house is gone, along with Darell's and Dru's and Rick's. We still are not allowed in, but we assume maybe tomorrow. No power yet, and who knows how long until we get it back. Hope you are well!! Kim

Karen wrote on Oct 25, 2007 10:38 PM:Thank you Ryan for the update on Purer Road. I'm in Canada but my Mom and Stepdad and brother live there. My Mom left a message on my voicemail that they have been evacuated but are ok...she is not in good health so I am concerned. Any info or help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Janet wrote on Oct 26, 2007 8:54 AM:Wow Kim! Funny where you run into people. So sorry about your Mom's and all our neighbors homes. Can't believe my house still there. I'm coming down on Saturday. Hope to see you in town if we can get in. Stay safe.

Dan wrote on Oct 26, 2007 1:07 PM:Is Del Dios open yet?

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