HOW TO PREPARE FOR WILDFIRES.
If you were living in San Diego in first decade of the 21st century, what you see and hear happening is probably sparking your memories of what happened in 2003 and 2007.
That’s when the largest wildfires in modern history swept through parts of San Diego County, that remain among the largest fires in California history.
The Cedar Fire in 2003 burned 280,000 acres, destroyed almost 2500 homes and killed 15 people including one firefighter.
In 2007 almost four years to the date, the Witch Creek Fire and the Harris Fire burned almost 300,000 acres, destroying some 15-hundred homes and causing at least six deaths. About 500,000 residents were forced to evacuate, the largest evacuation in San Diego history, with then-Qualcomm Stadium turned into a massive evacuation center.
And then just as now, strong Santa Ana winds quickly spread the flames and turned large fires into even larger and fast-moving fires.
And with Southern California now so dry, the winds act, as one climate scientist puts it, “an atmospheric blow-dryer" for vegetation bringing a long period of fire risk.”
The good news is that fire-fighting techniques have improved since then with more air tankers and water dropping helicopters being used now. So these current fires will be contained.
But what’s happening here during the first few days of 2025 is a reminder of wy we always need to be prepared for what happens far too often here in California.
(Photo Getty Images)