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Tag: Easy Fire

Roundup of new southern California wildfires, October 30-31, 2019

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories WildfireTags , , , , 1 Comment on Roundup of new southern California wildfires, October 30-31, 2019
new wildfires fires southern California San Diego Mexico
New wildfires in the greater San Diego area, updated at 6:42 a.m. PDT Oct. 31, 2019.
new wildfires fires southern California Los Angeles
New wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area, updated at 6:42 a.m. PDT Oct. 31, 2019.

Here we will keep a list of the new wildfires as they occur in southern California during the extremely strong northeast wind event. This list will include very brief information about each fire. The locations are shown on the map above.

Hillside Fire

Time of update: 6:55 a.m. Thursday

Location: at Highway 18 near Lupin Lane. San Bernardino/North Park/Wildwood Park. 34.183 latitude, -117.285 longitude

Size: about 200 acres

Status: Active, multiple homes have been destroyed, 500 homes evacuated. Highway 18 is closed between 40th St. in San Bernardino and Highway 138 in Crestline. The area is experiencing 20-30 mph winds with gusts to 60. Evacuation orders are in place.

Map showing location Hillside Fire
Map showing the location of the Hillside Fire at 3:12 a.m. PDT Oct. 31, 2019

46 Fire

Time of update: 11:16 p.m. Thursday

Location:  5300 block of 46th Street in Jurupa Valley in Riverside County.

Size: 300 acres at 6:30 a.m. Thursday

Status: Active, evacuations in effect. CAL FIRE reports that three residential structures and two outbuildings are confirmed destroyed.

Copper Fire

Time of update: 6:55  a.m. Thursday

Location: On the U.S./Mexico Border on Otay Mountain near Copper Canyon in southern San Diego County.

Size: CAL FIRE reports that 50 acres have burned on the U.S. side of the border. At Wildfire Today we estimate that approximately 500 acres in Mexico have burned.

Status: At 7:57 a.m. Thursday CAL FIRE reported that the spread on the portion of the fire in the U.S. has been stopped. Firefighters south of the border are engaged as well.

Copper Fire
Smoke from the Copper Fire as seen from the Otay camera at 8:36 a.m. PDT Oct. 31, 2019.

Castlewood Fire

Time of update: 7:29 a.m. Thursday

Location: Castlewood Drive and north Gilbert St, Fullerton

Size: About 15 to 20 acres

Status: Firefighters have stopped the spread.

Easy Fire

Time of update: 7:13 a.m. PDT Thursday

Location: Simi Valley south of the 118 freeway, north of Madera Road, west of Acapulco Ave., and west of the 23 freeway.

Size: 1,723 acres (according to Ventura County Fire Department at 6:52 a.m. Thursday)

Status: Some evacuations are still in effect. Two structures have burned. Firefighters have stopped the spread.

More information: https://wildfiretoday.com/2019/10/30/easy-fire-causes-evacuations-near-reagan-presidential-library/

Hill Fire

Time of update: 11:18 p.m. PDT Thursday

Location: Riverside, originally north of the 60 freeway near Pyrite Street, but spotted across.

Size: 626 acres

Status: Firefighters stopped the spread at 250 acres. Evacuations have been lifted.

More information: https://twitter.com/CALFIRERRU

Brea Fire

Time of update: 5 p.m. PDT Wednesday

Location: on the east side of the 57 freeway where it crosses over Brea Canyon Road three miles south of the 60 freeway.

Size: 16 acres

Status: Firefighters stopped the spread at 16 acres

Yosemite Fire

Time of update: 7:30 a.m. PDT Thursday

Location: In Simi Valley just south of the 118 freeway just east of Yosemite Ave. Near the intersection of Serena St. and Meralda Ave.

Size: estimate, one to two acres

Status: Started at about 1:25 p.m. Wednesday. Burned in the back yards of several homes on both sides of Yosemite Ave. Firefighters stopped the spread. A helicopter had to make a precautionary landing due to a mechanical problem, but there were no injuries.

Whittier Fire

Time of update: 4:52 p.m. PDT October 30, 2019

Location: 555 Durfee Ave South El Monte

Size: 2-3 acres

Status: Reported around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The spread was stopped at about 2-3 acres.

Dexter Fire

Time of update: 7:33 a.m. PDT Thursday

Location: Mission Ave at Mt. Rubidoux Dr., Riverside

Size: 30 acres

Status: It was reported at 11:40 a.m. on Wednesday. Evacuations have been lifted. Firefighters have stopped the spread.

Easy Fire causes evacuations near Reagan Presidential Library

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories WildfireTags , 3 Comments on Easy Fire causes evacuations near Reagan Presidential Library

UPDATED at 4:40 p.m. PDT October 30, 2019

Firefighters are working diligently to stop the Easy Fire at the 23 freeway. At least two spot fires erupted on the west side but were suppressed with the aid of aircraft. At times the winds were too extreme for any aircraft but late in the afternoon they subsided enough to allow helicopters and fixed wing air tankers to rejoin the fight.

Ventura County Fire Department officials said the fire has burned about 1,400 acres.

UPDATED at 11:40 a.m. PDT October 30, 2019

map Easy Fire
Map showing the APPROXIMATE location, based on live camera views, of the rapidly spreading Easy Fire at 10:30 a.m. PDT Oct. 30, 2019. Not to be used for planning or evacuation decisions.

The Easy Fire in Simi Valley has burned at least 1,300 acres according to an estimate from Ventura County authorities and has burned completely around the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in southern California. Goats have been used to reduce the vegetation around structures at the library which no doubt improved its survivability. (see map above)

Two DC-10 Very Large Air Tankers are working the fire but Air Attack is having a difficult time selecting targets in the strong wind that can be dropped on effectively.

air tankers aircraft Easy Fire
Aircraft over the Easy Fire at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 30, 2019, including two DC-10 Very Large Air Tankers, T-910 & T-914.

There are a total of 8 air tankers, 9 helicopters, and 800 firefighters working the fire.

The fire is threatening 6,500 homes.

At least two semi trucks have been overturned by the wind.

semi truck overturned by the wind
A semi truck overturned by the wind. ABC7

UPDATED at 8:39 a.m. PDT October 30, 2019

At least seven helicopters are dropping water on the fire but their effectiveness is reduced at times by the wind blowing the water off target. Two Super Scooper air tankers are also on scene and are concentrating on protecting the Reagan Presidential Library.

8:13 a.m. PDT October 30, 2019.

The Easy Fire that started in Ventura County in southern California before dawn spread very rapidly from Easy Street across Tierra Rejada Road toward the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. At 8 a.m. it had burned approximately 200 acres and was approaching the library and several homes east of Highway 23 north of Madera Road. (see map below)

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