WeatherFanatics: Firefighters Continue to Battle Raging Wildfires; Some Evacuees Permitted to Return Home

Friday, May 16, 2014

Firefighters Continue to Battle Raging Wildfires; Some Evacuees Permitted to Return Home

By Michael Kuhne, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

May 16,2014; 10:52PM,EDT

Scorching flames and thick smoke continues to threaten homes across northern San Diego County, California, fueled by high winds, heat and very low humidity.
The threat for fire risk will diminish into the weekend.
At least nine fires have scorched thousands of acres, forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and claimed more than $15 million in property damage this week.

Firefighters plan their attack as the brush fire flares up heading toward homes Thursday, May 15, 2014, in San Marcos, Calif. Gusty winds failed to return Thursday morning in San Diego County wildfire areas and authorities said it was a window of opportunity to make further gains against flames that burned homes and drove tens of thousands from their homes. (AP Photo)
The causes of the fires are being investigated, according to the Associated Press.
Late Thursday evening, two individuals were arrested on suspicion of trying to start a fire in Escondido, The Los Angeles Times reported.
On Friday, a 57-year old man was charged with arson in one of the fires, the Associated Press reported.
No major injuries have been reported as of Friday. However, one body was found badly burned near the Carlsbad fire but the cause of death is still not certain.
California Governor Edmund Brown declared a state of emergency for San Diego County Wednesday evening.
On Wednesday, a wildfire near Carlsbad claimed several homes and destroyed two commercial buildings, with early structural damage assessments estimated at $15 million, according to the report.
Another fire Wednesday ignited near Camp Pendleton and has since grown to 6,000 acres, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported.

Cocos Fire near San Marcos (Photo/@NWSSanDiego)
By late Wednesday, a fire ignited near San Marcos and had consumed more than a 3000 acres by Friday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). As of Friday evening, the fire was 10 percent contained.

A wildfire approaches homes on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, in San Marcos, California. (AP Photo)
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As of Thursday morning, multiple fires near San Marcos was reported to have damaged and claimed homes, according to the city's official report.
California State University San Marcos has been evacuated and is closed for the rest of the week. Commencement ceremonies scheduled for Friday and Saturday have been canceled.
President Dr. Karen Haynes said on the school's website: "Canceling commencement was not a decision we took lightly and we are saddened by the circumstances. Safety continues to be our first concern."

A firenado is born out of a fire in Bonsall, California, on Thursday, May 14, 2014. (Photo/Rick Halsey, californiachaparral.org)
The fires have been able to spread quickly due to heat and persistent, dry winds.
"The heat is going to continue right through into the end of the week," AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Brian Edwards said, adding the threat of high winds should wane slightly by week's end.
As of Friday evening, several evacuation orders have been lifted, including those around The City of San Marcos.

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