WeatherFanatics: Bernardo, Poinsettia San Diego Fires Force Evacuations, Destroy Homes

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Bernardo, Poinsettia San Diego Fires Force Evacuations, Destroy Homes

By Michael Kuhne, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

May 14,2014; 10:43PM,EDT

High winds, heat and very low humidity in California will set the stage for extreme fire conditions, as the Bernardo Fire continues to rage near San Diego.
On Wednesday, the Poinsettia Fire ignited approximately 25 miles from San Diego, in Carlsbad, which has forced the evacuation order of more than 15,000 residents and has claimed structures in its wake, city officials reported.
More than 20,000 homes in San Diego were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday due to the growing Bernardo Fire in North County, according to a report from San Diego County officials.
At 8:43 p.m. PDT Tuesday, San Diego County officials lifted all evacuation orders in San Diego City that were put in place earlier in the day.

Billowing smoke rises from flames as firefighters begin the trek up the hills to battle a wild fire, Tuesday, May 13, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo)
According to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection of California, the blaze consumed 1,548 acres and was only 25 percent contained as of 9:15 a.m. PDT Wednesday.
The threat for continued spread of the fire will persist into Wednesday, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Brian Edwards said.
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Due to persistent, and very dry winds, conditions are certainly conducive to the spreading of a wildfire, he said. Gusts may peak as high as 50 mph on Wednesday.
High temperatures soared well into the 90s on Wednesday, after climbing to 94 F, or 26 F above normal, on Tuesday.
"The heat is going to continue right through into the end of the week," Edwards said. Looking ahead into Thursday, the wind should die down, he said.
By 1 p.m. PDT Wednesday, a separate brush fire posed an immediate threat to structures near Camp Pendleton, San Diego County, according to the Park and Forest service.
"Marine Corps officials told the Associated Press that the blaze started at about 9:45 a.m. at the Naval Weapons Station in Fallbrook, north of San Diego.
Military housing have been ordered to evacuate, the Associate Press reported. The fire had grown to 152 acres by 2 p.m. PDT.
Later in the day, the wildfire near Carlsbad claimed more than 30 homes, the Associated Press reported.
"As of 1:30 p.m., approximately 15,000 evacuations notifications have been sent," according to a statement issued by city officials. "Evacuation boundaries are west of El Fuerte Road, south of Palomar Airport Road, north of Aviara Parkway and west to the coast."
"Eight homes, an eight-unit apartment complex and one commercial structure have been damaged by the fire", the report said.
No major injuries have been reported as Wednesday evening.

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