EVACUATIONS LIFTED IN BERNARDO FIRE

Update 10:30 p.m. - All roadsd are now reopened. The fire has burned 850 acres, San Diego Sheriff advises.

Update 8:15 p.m. - Evacuations in this fire have been lifted, the County Emergency website reports.

By Miriam Raftery

May 13, 2014 6:10 p.m.(San Diego)--A fast-burning wildfire has charred an estimated 700 acres and forced evacuation of 20,000 homes in north-central San Diego County,  Ron Lane, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer with the County Fire Authority told advised East County Magazine. 

An evacuation center is open at Rancho Bernardo High School (13010 Paseo Lucido).  An earlier evacuation center at Torrey Pines High School is full.

The blaze, which is 5% contained, is burning west of  I-15. 

Communities that have been evacuated include portions of Torrey Highlands, Rancho Penasqutios, Black Mountain Ranch, Santa Luz Fairbanks Ranch, outer portions of Rancho Santa Fe and Camino Del Sur, according to Cal Fire.

"Currently, the areas of concern include the Communities of Rancho Santa Fe, Fairbanks Ranch, San Diego, Black Mountain Ranch, Del Mar, Solana Beach and the areas surrounding the SDG&E 230 KV Power Lines," said Cal Fire Captain Kendal Bortisser.

The fire is under unified command of Cal Fire, San Diego Fire, and Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department.

For a full list of areas ordered evacuated, as of late this afternoon, and road closures,  click “read more” and scroll down, where tips on preparing for an approaching wildfire are also posted.

Evacuations have been ordered for the following areas (View map, right, of evacuation area)



-- Rancho Santa Fe residents

-- Fairbanks Ranch residents

-- Fairbanks Country Club

-- Stone Ranch and Will Grove elementary schools (evacuees to Torrey Pines HS)

-- Del Sur Elementary School (evacuees to Poway HS)

-- Black Mountain Ranch residents

-- Black Mountain Park

-- Santaluz residents

-- Del Sur residents

-- Northern Lights Road

-- Circa Del Norte (Fairbanks Ranch)

-- Calle Mayor

-- Avenida Alteras

-- Residents south of Carmel Valley, between Camino Del Sur and Black Mountain Road

-- Helen Woodward Animal Center (6461 El Apajo)



*Residents in 92127 and 92129 ZIP codes are on alert; no mandatory evacuation as of 3:55 p.m.



Street closures:

-- El Sicomoro at Via De Santa Fe

-- Camino Del Sur at Rancho Bernardo

-- Eastbound San Dieguito Road at El Apajo

-- Northbount Camino Del Sur from San Dieguito Road

-- Entrada de Luz East

-- Del Sur Court

-- Run of the Knolls

-- Deer Ridge Road

-- San Dieguito Road near Montien Road

-- San Dieguito Road between El Apajo and Camino del Sur



County Evacuation Map - www.arcgis.com

An evacuation center at Torrey Pines High School is now full. The Red Cross is opening a second shelter at Rancho Bernardo High School.

The California Highway Patrol is asking the public to avoid Via De La Valle to allow emergency personnel access to the area.  If you access Via De La Valle from I-5 you will be turned around at El Camino Real.  The public will also be turned around at Via De La Valle if they attempt to access from Del Dios Highway.  Please avoid this area to allow emergency personnel access while fighting the Bernardo Fire.

IF A WILDFIRE THREATENS 

Wildfires spread quickly, igniting brush, trees and homes. The Red Cross has important steps people to follow that can lessen the threat of a wildfire. If a wildfire is burning near your neighborhood, back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape. Confine your pets to one room so you can find them if you need to get out quickly. Listen to local radio and television stations for updated information, and be ready to leave at a moment's notice.

These steps will help limit your exposure to smoke:

• Keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors to prevent outside smoke from getting in.
• Use the recycle or re-circulate mode on the air conditioner in your home or car. If you do not have air conditioning and it is too hot to stay inside with closed windows, seek shelter elsewhere.
• Do not use anything that burns and adds to indoor air pollution, such as candles, fireplaces and gas stoves. Avoid running the vacuum cleaner because it stirs up particles that are already inside your home.
• If you have asthma or another lung disease, follow your health care provider's advice and seek medical care if your symptoms worsen.

More information about how to prepare should a wildfire threaten your community is available on the Red Cross web sites – www.preparesandiego.org or www.redcross.org/sandiego.