Cigr Companero: Premiere Edition 2008 San Diego Big Smoke

     The following was the daily briefings I gave to my cigar brothers at BOTL.org:

     Sunday October 21 @ 2225 hours: 11 major fires, 6 counties in a state of emergency, and 2 of them are in my backyard - east county San Diego! 1 dead, 17 injured in the Protrero fire, including 4 firefighters. Just put one in a coma. Total devastation, including lots and lots of animals that didn't get out! As I write this, the wind is still gusting at 60mph+...

     It looks like I'll be fighting fires tomorrow!! Prayers for all the victims and the safety personnel!!

     Monday October 22 @ 0648 hours: Callout at 2300 hours.... will be here for quite a while! Going to Ramona in a few,,, the town has been completely evacuated! Just shut down the I-15 because of fear the fire will go under the freeway (west). Wind gusts are up to 70mph. This is the Witch Creek fire.

     The Harris (or Protrero) fire is a lot closer to my house. Westbound through
Dulzura, Campo,,, Hwy 94 completely shut down, as is the Tecate border (evacuated). My school, Santana High, is an evacuation center! These fires have devastating potential!!!

     I'll post again when I get the chance!

     Monday October 22 @ 2044 hours: Oh my gosh,,, devastation everywhere,,,, we started mandatory evacuations in Ramona at 0700, then Poway, then Rancho Bernardo, then Rancho Santa Fe! I saw unbelievable multi-million dollar homes 'up in smoke!!' I stayed a few in front of the fire the entire time,,, all the way west!! Amazing pictures to follow....

     Then, I get to my home (about 20 minutes ago) to find out the Harris fire is about 2 miles away, and they're (actually, I guess it would be me - the Sheriff's office) is conducting 'voluntary evacuations' in my neighborhood as we speak! I sent my daughter and the dogs to friends,,, and I have to be back in Ramona at 6am tomorrow morning! So, I'm gonna drink a couple beers, take a shower, and I am out!!

     Thanks for the prayers! It is truly a sad sad state of affairs!!

     Tuesday October 23 @ 0559 hours: Mandatory evacuation! The fire is coming down the front-side of Mount San Miguel, across the street from my house! Ha!! I'm leaving right now for Ramona, an hour away, for a minimum of 12 hours!! Daughter's safe. Dogs are safe. Just hope my house is here when I get back!! Thanks for the prayers boys!! Keep 'em coming!!

Jeff

     Tuesday October 23 @ 0923 hours: Got a breather (no pun intended, as visibility is about 50 yards),,, my friend is camped out in my backyard,,, pump in the pool with a fire hose standing by,,, he said he would 'wait it out' for me! So, I'm pretty confident my house will still be there. Unfortunately, the Harris fire is now threatening another 2000 homes! We're off to the 4-S ranch, as it is now fully engulfed!! That's the Witch Creek fire!

Jeff

      Tuesday October 23 @ 2050 hours: Well, all I can say is "wow!" Utter devastation. Mostly patrolling for looters today, as many of the communities are still unsafe to go back into.

     I'll tell you who the adrenaline junkies are: the winds died down and the planes got to play! We parked atop Hwy 67, overlooking Mount Woodson. Lots of flames threatening a slew of antennas and repeaters atop the Mount. there was a scout plane which orbited high above the Mount,,, two navy cobra heli's that darted in with their baskets of water,,, and then the stunt pilots with their flame-retardant cargo... they'd dive into this thick smoke cloud, emerge on the face of this Mount at an unreal diagonal slope, hugging the wall of this Mount, all the while dropping their load with pinpoint precession! Then, the plane pulls up and hard right, gaining altitude and away... and there were three of them!! An absolute perfect coordination of high-powered resources! Hope the video turned out!!!

     Gentlemen, thank you for allowing me to share! Haven't seen my daughter in two days,,, or anyone else for that matter! Nice release as I drink my third beer!!

     We'll do it again tomorrow,,, same bat time,,, same bat channel

Q. What's the latest on the battle against the fires?
A. Winds are down,,, planes are up! lot's (I mean LOTS) of federal support.... here's a great story

     California governor has to ask for assistance,,, goes through several channels before it gets to the Army National Guard, who has 6 DC10 (?) fire planes, 2 Colorado, 2 Wyoming, 2 ?... prior to Arnie's call, the top National Guard dude puts in an order for all planes to gear up for fire training exercises in CA. when they received the official order to get to California to help, the planes were already prepared, and they started dropping this afternoon!

     I got home tonight and there were many more people on my street watching the fires on mount San Miguel. Though they looked close, I knew we were okay. There were at least 20 fire rigs that were positioned at the Hwy 94/54 intersection. And they weren't needed, due to all the other units on the front lines!!

     Talked to a few neighbors who came over when I got home. They wanted to know what I thought. I have no worries. Which is a good thing, cuz I'm fricking tired!!!!!

     So, to answer your question, WE'RE GONNA WIN!!!

     Wednesday October 24 @ 1851 hours: Sitting here in Ramona, waiting for relief!! A very long day!! The city is still completely evacuated,,, just restored power, but still no water. Several large fronts still very active, but not on our beat. Today, it was all about high visibility!! Back tomorrow for another round! Sheesh, I am just a bit twisted... but it'll be one heck of a paycheck!! Probably doing this thru Sunday!

     Latest update - 1600 homes destroyed, 100 commercial buildings, 100 other buildings. Already exceed $1billion in loss, millions fo $$ in cost. Un-freaking-believable!!

Jeff

     October 25 @ 2047 hours: not much today,,, breakfast burritos, helicopter crash, looting patrol, KFC,,,

     My platoon is working out of the community of Ramona. They were the first to be evacuated, on Sunday night. They (CalFire, who overrode the Sheriff twice!!) just opened the roads so these folk can go back home. The issue was the water pumps weren't working, therefore, no water (though 3/4 of the residents have their own wells). Verrrrry long story short, there are 300 Army National Guardsman slinging M-16s roaming about in their armor-plated humvees (they look freaking cool with the guy hanging out the top!!) There are some really pissed off people, about 35,000 to be exact! Our lieutenant told us, "Put on a really tough skin tomorrow. These folk are gonna be pissed!" No kidding!!

     I'll be up there at least 2 more days. Then, I'll clean my pool! Ha!!

Jeff

     Friday October 26 @ 2007 hours: Woohoo! The residents of Ramona are home! And, 9 out of 10 are very very grateful!! High visibility was the order of the day! That and 3 hours of traffic control (it was only 98 degrees)!

     My squad will go up tomorrow, and that'll be it!! I'll have Sunday off, and my Sergeant is giving me Monday off (Yeehaw!!). When it is all said and done, I'll have 33 hours of OT on my next check, and I'll have 25 hours on the one after that! Just in time for Vegas!!! Now, I have to get rid of this cough,,, haven't had a cigar in a week! Bahhhhh!!

     Thank you for all your support!

     Saturday October 27 @ 2138 hours: I'm bummed. I'm burnt (no pun intended). 15.5 hours today, just got home,,, back at 0500 tomorrow, and probably Monday too... looks like there'll be no football for me!

     I did smoke a RP 1992 churchill (thanks Tedski!), and it was great!! I still have the freaking cough, and I will till I can get to the doctor so, I figure, WTF!! Standing there directing traffic with a big ole stogie hanging out my mouth!! Ha!!!

     Sunday October 28 @ 2039 hours: No mas. Regular schedule tomorrow. Pictures to follow...

     On Monday October 29, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office released the following information:

     The Harris Fire is 90,440 acres and 75% contained. Full containment is expected on October 31st and full control on November 3rd.   There are 2,473 firefighters assigned. Cost to date $11.9 million.   There have been 34 injuries to firefighters, 21 civilians burned and 5 civilian fatalities.

     The Witch Fire is 197,990 acres and 95% contained. Full containment is expected on October 30th and full control on November 3rd.   There are 2,340 firefighters assigned. Cost to date $13 million. There have been 39 injuries to firefighters, 2 civilian fatalities.

     The Rice Fire is 9,472 acres and 100% contained. Full containment was obtained on October 28th at 7 a.m., and full control on November 5th.   There are 469 firefighters assigned. Cost to date $5.5 million. There have been 5 injuries to firefighters.

     The Poomacha Fire is 49,540 acres and 65% contained. Full containment is expected on October 31st and full control on November 5th.   There are 2,600 firefighters assigned. There have been 20 injuries to firefighters. Cost to date $7.2 million. The DC-10, Martin Mars, 6-MAFFS(C-130), and 6-Heavy Air Tankers are currently working together to contain the spread of the fire. Mop up and patrol is underway within the flats, but the area around Palomar Mountain is still active.
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     We are still 'on call' as the Santa Ana winds are supposed to kick up again. The devastation I have witnessed is absolutely incomprehensible. I observed an entire trailer park that appeared to be completely bombed out! Nuclear war, I'm telling you!! Leveled!! Flat as flat can be!! And, 20 yards across a dried creek bed, another trailer park that was unscathed. Untouched!! No rhyme. No reason. You're gone. You're okay. What else is there to say…. I guess we'll do this again in 4 years….
My prayers go out to all the families that these fires have touched, scorched, and scarred! And my deepest gratitude to the fine citizens of San Diego County! It is a sincere pleasure to serve you!!

Jeff Winton, Sheriff Deputy
San Diego County Sheriff's Office
Photos Courtesy of Jeff Winton and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department

For more Photographs follow the following link

Senior Editor's Note: Jeff is the new co-editor for Cigar Compañero, we thank him for the service he gives of himself and the many others like him. Thanks Jeff. The fires subsided just in time for Jeff to get to the Big Smoke in Las Vegas.