October 2007 Firestorm
Witch Creek Fire
The following are photos from during and after the devastating wildfires of 2007. Most of the images focus on the Witch Creek Fire which burned nearly 200,000 acres, over one thousand homes, killed 2 people, and forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people in San Diego County including Nicole and I. More information and photos to come in the following weeks.
The Fires
Wide angel shot of the Witch Creek's 25-30 mile-long fireline: October 21, 2007
Northern flank of the Witch Creek Fire from Inaja Park, Hwy 78.
Poomacha Fire from S2 on October 23, 2007: Photo taken while evacuating
The giant Poomacha Fire smoke plume: Southern slopes of Mount Palomar
Poomacha Fire burns beautiful Mount Palomar: October 23, 2007
Smokey looks on: It was the wind and not the fire that eventually destroyed this sign.
The Damage
Moonscape
"The Skeletons of Witch Creek"
Frozen in time, the burned leaves point in the fire's direction of travel.
This box no longer collects mail... only ash.
The ruins of a home and truck along Hwy 78 near Witch Creek.
A warped trash can is all that remains of a house that once stood on this debris-covered foundation.
Household items become scrap metal.
More fire damage
It's important to have the support of friends in times like these.
The hollowed out base of an ancient oak "masks" the sun's rays.
A large Live Oak meets its end.
The Live Oaks did not fair well in areas like these.
One HOT car for sale!
Like a clock after a disaster, these leaves record the moment the fire blew through from right to left.
The skeletons of trees loom over the skeleton of this car.
Two charred cypress trees and a lone chimney stand gaurd among the ruins of house.
Two charred Eucalyptus Trees line the front of what used to be someone's front porch.
Blowdown near Pine Hills Egg Ranch.
Eucalyptus don't last long during strong winds and wildfires.
This Eucalyptus snapped in half before the fire ever even got to it.
Chaos in the ruins: Ramona Canyon along Hwy 78.
This old-school Suburban is now headed for the final Sunday drive in the sky.
The posts are new, but the torched sign is not.
Moonscape in Ramona Canyon.
The walls still stand
Another vehicle destined for the junk yard.
Wind Damage and Other Interesting Images
This large Cedar snapped in half and what was left had to be cut down. I left a quarter in the center for scale.
The winds flagged this cedar tree at Inaja Park. Most of the foliage has been blown off, and the east side of the tree has been stripped of foliage and most of its branches.
The fire was so intense, it melted whatever metal object used to sit on that hill. A stream of molten metal began to run down the hill but then solidified as the fire moved on.
I have many more wind damage photos to add, but they have not been uploaded to my compter as of yet.