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October 2007 California wildfires

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{{Infobox wildfire
| title= October 2007 California wildfires
| image= AERONET La Jolla.2007295.aqua.250m.jpg
| caption= [[NASA]] satellite photo (provided by NSPO, Taiwan National Space Organization) from October 22, 2007, showing the active fire zones and smoke plumes.
| location= [[Southern California]]
| cost= At least $2.393 billion (2007 USD)<ref name="losses">{{cite web|url=http://air-worldwide.com/_public/NewsData/001563/AIRCurrents_CaliWildfires.pdf|title=California Wildfire: How Large Can The Losses Be?|author1=Dr. Tomas Girnius|author2=Tyler Hauteniemi|author3=Scott Stransky|publisher=AIRCurrents|date=August 2008|accessdate=December 11, 2017}}</ref><ref name="2007 San Diego firestorms AAR" /><ref name="2007 fire siege" />
| date= October 20, 2007<ref name="IW-Ranch"/> – November 13, 2007<ref name="2007 fire siege" />
| total_fires= 30<ref name="2007 fires archive">{{cite web |url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_archived?archive_year=2007 |title=Archived Fires 2007|publisher=cdfdata.fire.ca.gov |accessdate=2015-08-21}}</ref>
| cause= Human; downed power lines; heat; vehicle fires, etc.
| area= {{convert|972147|acre|km2|-2}}<ref name="2007 fires archive" /><ref name="10news" /><ref name="latimes_1024">{{cite news
| url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fire24oct24,0,5795853.story?coll=la-home-center
| title=1,155 homes -- and counting
| author = Christine Hanley, Janet Wilson and Mitchell Landsberg |newspaper= Los Angeles Times
| date=October 24, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-24
}}</ref><ref name="cnn_1024">{{cite news
| url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/24/fire.wildfire.ca/index.html
| title= Bush signs order to speed aid to fire victims |publisher= CNN
| date=October 24, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>
| landuse= Mixed, residential, and wildlands
| injuries=At least 160<ref name="2007 fires archive"/><ref name="cnn_1024"/>
| fatalities=17<ref name="latimes_1024"/><ref name="ap_1025_2_burned">{{cite news
| url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071025/ap_on_re_us/california_wildfires_310
| title= 2 burned bodies are found in Calif.
| author = Elliot Spagat |publisher= [[Yahoo! News]]
| date=October 25, 2007
|accessdate=2007-10-25 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071027043717/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071025/ap_on_re_us/california_wildfires_310 |archivedate = 2007-10-27}}</ref><ref name="2007 fire siege">{{cite web |url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/siege/2007/Overview_CompleteFinal.pdf |date=8 January 2009|title=California Fire Siege 2007: An Overview |accessdate=2015-08-21}}</ref>
}}

The '''October 2007 California wildfires''', also known as the '''Fall 2007 California firestorm''',<ref name="10 years ago">{{cite web |url=https://www.valleycenter.com/articles/10-years-ago-this-week-devastating-fires-began/ |title=10-years ago this week devastating fires began |author=David Ross |newspaper=Valley Roadrunner |date=October 19, 2017 |accessdate=November 7, 2017}}</ref> were a series of about thirty [[wildfires]] (17 of which became major wildfires)<ref name="2007 fire siege"/> that began igniting across [[Southern California]] on October 20. At least 1,500 homes were destroyed<ref name="AP_1024">
{{cite news |title=1,500 homes lost; $1B loss in San Diego area
| agency= Associated Press |author=Gillian Flaccus
| url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003971082_wildfires24.html
| date=2007-10-24 | newspaper= Seattle Times
| accessdate=2007-10-24
}}</ref> and approximately 972,147 acres (about 3,934 km2, or 1,520 mi2) of land was burned from [[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara County]] to the [[United States–Mexico border|U.S.–Mexico border]], surpassing the October 2003 California wildfires in scope, which were estimated to have burned {{convert|800000|acre|km2}}.<ref name="2007 fires archive"/> The wildfires killed a total of 14 people, with nine of them dying directly from the fires;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/14546772/detail.html?dl=headlineclick |title=Firestorm Claims 9th Victim |publisher=[[KNSD]] |date=November 8, 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-09 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071202033303/http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/14546772/detail.html?dl=headlineclick |archivedate = 2007-12-02}}</ref> 160 others were injured, including at least 124 [[firefighter]]s.<ref name="2007 fires archive"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/26/fire.wildfire.ca/index.html?eref=onion | title=Fire deaths, damage come into focus as evacuees cope | publisher=CNN | date=October 26, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-28}}</ref> At their height, the raging fires were visible from space.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/10/photogalleries/wildfire-pictures/ |title=California Fires Rage, Visible in Space |date=2007-10-23 |work=[[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] |accessdate=2009-05-04}}</ref> These fires included the vast majority of the largest and deadliest wildfires of the [[2007 California wildfires|2007 California wildfire season]]. The only wildfire in 2007 that surpassed any of the individual October 2007 fires in size was the [[Zaca Fire]].<ref name="Zaca Fire">{{cite web|title=Zaca Fire Incident Information|url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=190|website=[[CAL FIRE]]|date=4 September 2007|accessdate=25 August 2015}}</ref>

California Governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] declared a [[state of emergency]] in seven California counties where fires were burning.<ref name="NYT1">
{{cite news |title = California Fires Destroy Scores of Homes | work = The New York Times |author=Archibold, Randal C. |date=2007-10-23
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/us/22cnd-fire.html?em&ex=1193284800&en=a3c27a7178490ad2&ei=5087%0A
|accessdate=2007-10-23
}}</ref> President [[George W. Bush]] concurred, and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts.<ref name="fed_disaster">
{{cite press release | url =https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071023.html
|title = Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for California | date = 2007-10-23
| publisher = The White House | accessdate = 2007-10-24
}}</ref> Over 6,000 firefighters worked to fight the blazes; they were aided by units of the [[United States Armed Forces]],<ref name="six navy"/> [[United States National Guard]],<ref name="cnn military"/> almost 3,000 prisoners convicted of non-violent crimes,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN2626717020071026 | title=California turns to prisoners to fight huge fires | publisher=Reuters | date=October 26, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-28}}</ref> and 60 firefighters from the Mexican cities of [[Tijuana]] and [[Tecate]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20071023-1545-mexico-wildfires.html | title=Mexican firefighters helping in California return to Mexico to fight blaze |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 23, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-28}}<includeonly>coyotehowls</includeonly></ref> The fires forced approximately 1,000,000 people to evacuate from their homes, becoming the largest evacuation in California's history.<ref name="test">{{cite news|last=McLean|first=Demian|title=California Fires Rout Almost 1 Million People, Kill 5 (Update7)|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=aufnKvlM.Et8&pid=newsarchive |publisher=Bloomberg |date=October 24, 2007 |author2=Peter J. Brennan}}</ref>

Major contributing factors to the extreme fire conditions were [[drought]] in Southern California, hot weather, and unusually strong [[Santa Ana winds]], with gusts reaching 85 mph (140 km/h).<ref>
{{cite news |url=http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/10718551.html |title=Southern California wildfires blamed on unusual Santa Ana winds |author=Chang, Alicia |accessdate=2014-06-12 |date=2007-10-22 |publisher=[[KOLO-TV]] |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6QI4VYWif |archivedate=2014-06-12}}</ref> California's "fire season," which traditionally runs from June to October, has become a year-round threat, due to a mixture of perennial drought and the increasing number of homes built in canyons and on hillsides, surrounded by brush and forest.<ref name=Independent>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/50000-flee-homes-as-fires-rage-in-california-1021729.html |title=50,000 flee homes as fires rage in California |last=Adams |first=Guy |date=2008-11-17 |work=[[The Independent]] |accessdate=2009-05-06 | location=London}}</ref>

The fires had numerous sources. Several were triggered by power lines damaged by the high winds.<ref>{{cite news|title = Firefighters Protect Homes In Foothill Ranch
| publisher = KNBC
|url=http://www.knbc.com/news/14392969/detail.html |date=2007-10-22
|accessdate=2007-10-22
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite news |title = Power lines cited as cause of largest wildfires
| work = The San Diego Union-Tribune
|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071116-1750-bn16cause2.html |date=2007-11-16
|accessdate=2007-11-16
}}</ref> One fire started when a [[semi-trailer truck|semi-truck]] overturned.<ref name="Fontana"/> Another was suspected to have been deliberately caused; the suspect was shot and killed in flight by state authorities.<ref>{{cite news |title = California police shoot dead suspected arsonist | work =The Guardian
|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2198866,00.html
|accessdate=2007-10-27 | location=London | first=Fred | last=Attewill | date=October 25, 2007}}</ref> A 10-year-old boy admitted that he accidentally started the Buckweed Fire by playing with matches.<ref name="buckweed_cause"/> Causes of the remaining fires remain under investigation. The last active fire, the Poomacha Fire, was fully extinguished on November 13, 2007, about 24 days after the series of wildfires had begun to ignite.<ref name="2007 fire siege" /> The October 2007 wildfires caused over $2 billion (2007 USD) in insured property damages.<ref name="losses" /><ref name="2007 San Diego firestorms AAR">{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/oes/docs/2007_SanDiego_Fire_AAR_Main_Document_FINAL.pdf|title=2007 San Diego County Firestorms After Action Report|author=Walker F. Ekard|publisher=County of San Diego|date=February 2008|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref>

==Fires==
This is a list of the named fires that ignited as part of the October 2007 California firestorm, beginning in late October 2007. Most of these wildfires were managed by [[Cal Fire]] at some point in time.<ref name="2007 fires archive" />

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Name
! County
! Acres
! Km{{sup|2}}
! Start Date
! Contained Date
! Notes
|-
| [[Ranch Fire (2007)|Ranch]]||[[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]||{{convert|58401|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 20, 2007|| October 30, 2007 ||10 structures destroyed
|-
| [[Canyon Fire (2007)|Canyon]]||[[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]||{{convert|4521|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 21, 2007|| October 27, 2007 ||8 structures destroyed
|-
| Sedgewick Fire||[[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara]]||{{convert|710|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 21, 2007|| October 30, 2007 ||
|-
| [[Harris Fire|Harris]]||[[San Diego County, California|San Diego]]||{{convert|90440|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 21, 2007|| November 5, 2007 ||472 structures destroyed, 1 civilian fatality
|-
| October Fire||[[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]||{{convert|35|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 21, 2007|| October 30, 2007 ||
|-
| Nightsky Fire||[[Ventura County, California|Ventura]]||{{convert|20|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 21, 2007|| November 1, 2007 ||
|-
| [[Witch Fire|Witch]]||[[San Diego County, California|San Diego]]||{{convert|197990|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 21, 2007|| November 6, 2007 ||1,650 structures destroyed, 2 civilian fatalities
|-
| McCoy Fire<ref name="merged into Witch Fire" group=nb>These wildfires merged into the [[Witch Fire]].</ref>||[[San Diego County, California|San Diego]]||{{convert|400|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 21, 2007|| October 26, 2007<ref name="Santiago Fire report" /> || 1 structure destroyed<ref name="10news" />
|-
| [[Buckweed Fire|Buckweed]]||[[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]||{{convert|38356|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 21, 2007|| November 1, 2007 ||63 structures destroyed
|-
| Roca Fire||[[Riverside County, California|Riverside]]||{{convert|270|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 21, 2007|| November 1, 2007 ||
|-
| [[Santiago Fire|Santiago]]||[[Orange County, California|Orange]]||{{convert|28400|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 21, 2007|| November 9, 2007 ||24 structures destroyed
|-
| Coronado Hills Fire||[[San Diego County, California|San Diego]]||{{convert|250|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 22, 2007|| October 30, 2007 ||
|-
| Little Mountain Fire||[[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]]||{{convert|650|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 22, 2007|| October 24, 2007 ||
|-
| Walker Fire||[[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]]||{{convert|160|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 22, 2007|| October 30, 2007 ||
|-
| Cajon Fire||[[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]]||{{convert|250|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 22, 2007|| October 30, 2007 ||
|-
| [[Magic Fire (2007)|Magic]]||[[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]||{{convert|2824|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 22, 2007|| October 27, 2007 ||
|-
| [[Slide Fire|Slide]]||[[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]]||{{convert|12759|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 22, 2007|| October 31, 2007 ||272 structures destroyed
|-
| [[Rice Fire|Rice]]||[[San Diego County, California|San Diego]]||{{convert|9472|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 22, 2007|| November 1, 2007 ||248 structures destroyed
|-
| [[Grass Valley Fire|Grass Valley]]||[[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]]||{{convert|1247|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 22, 2007|| October 29, 2007 ||178 structures destroyed
|-
| Rosa Fire||[[Riverside County, California|Riverside]]||{{convert|411|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 22, 2007|| October 31, 2007 ||
|-
| San Martin Fire||[[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]]||{{convert|123|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 23, 2007|| October 30, 2007 ||
|-
| Meadowridge Fire||[[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]||{{convert|58401|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 23, 2007|| October 30, 2007 ||
|-
| [[Poomacha Fire|Poomacha]]<ref name="merged into Witch Fire" group=nb />||[[San Diego County, California|San Diego]]||{{convert|49410|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 23, 2007|| November 13, 2007<ref name="2007 fire siege" /> ||217 structures destroyed
|-
| [[Ammo Fire|Ammo (Horno) Fire]]||[[San Diego County, California|San Diego]]||{{convert|21004|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 23, 2007|| October 29, 2007 ||
|-
| Wilcox Fire||[[San Diego, California|San Diego]]||{{convert|100|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 23, 2007|| October 26, 2007 ||
|-
| Wildomar Fire||[[Riverside, California|Riverside]]||{{convert|20|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}|| October 24, 2007|| October 24, 2007 ||
|}

===Notes===
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==Counties==
===San Diego County===
[[Image:CAWildFire2007SanDiegoNOAA.png|thumb|NOAA hot spot map of San Diego County, October 23, 2007.]]
[[Image:2007SanDiegoFiresradar1008z.PNG|thumb|[[Weather radar]] imagery of the fires on October 23.]]
Of all the wildfires, the two largest ones were located in [[San Diego County]]. The largest, the Witch Creek Fire, burned areas in north and northeast San Diego County. The second largest, the Harris Fire, burned northwest from the U.S–Mexico border towards [[San Diego]]. Officials feared that the fires could become even more destructive than the [[Cedar Fire (2003)|2003 Cedar Fire]]<ref name="NYT1" /> that burned {{convert|280278|acre|km2|1}}, destroyed 2,820 buildings (including 2,232 homes), and killed 15 people (including one firefighter) before being contained on November 3, 2003. Although individually the fires did not surpass the Cedar Fire, if they had combined as one, they would have.<ref name=memorial>{{cite web | url = http://www.lakesidehistory.org/CedarFire/cedar_fire_memorial.htm |title = Cedar Fire & Memorial | publisher = Lakeside Historical Society | accessdate = 2007-10-27}}</ref><ref>[http://www.fire.ca.gov/cdf/incidents/Cedar%20Fire_120/incident_info.html Cedar Fire-Final Update, State of California website]. Note, some references, such as [http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0304articles/sandiego-fire.html Esri] report the acreage of the Cedar Fire at 273,246 acres; however, this article uses the figure reported by the State of California.</ref>

Residents were subjected to a mix of mandatory and voluntary evacuations, depending on the projected path of a fire. Hundreds of thousands of residents were notified of evacuations via a computerized [[Reverse 911]] phone call system. While this alert system was mostly effective, many residents in Rancho Bernardo received the calls after they had been driven from their homes.<ref name="witch roars"/> On the other hand, in [[Carmel Valley, San Diego, California|Carmel Valley]], only the northern half was officially evacuated, but a computer error mistakenly sent Reverse 911 calls to the southern half as well. Law enforcement officers also notified residents by driving through evacuation areas. On October 24, 2007, [[San Diego County Sheriff]] Bill Kolender stated that the number of people evacuated in San Diego county exceeded the number evacuated from [[New Orleans, Louisiana]] during [[Effects of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans|Hurricane Katrina]].<ref>{{cite news
| url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/fire-evac-surpasses-katrina.html
|title=Fire evac surpasses Katrina |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune
| date=October 24, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>

Two days into the fires, approximately 500,000 people from at least 346,000 homes were under mandatory orders to evacuate,<ref>"[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15561235 California Wildfires Trigger Widespread Evacuations]". [[National Public Radio|NPR]] (2007-10-24). Retrieved on 2007-10-24.</ref> the largest evacuation in the region's history.<ref name="latimes_evac">
{{cite news |accessdate=2007-10-24
|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-evacuate24oct24,0,627804.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-california
| title=Scale of the fires' disruption on display at San Diego stadium
| author = H. G. Reza, Jill Leovy and Alex Pham | newspaper=Los Angeles Times
| date=October 24, 2007
}}</ref> Evacuation sites included [[Qualcomm Stadium]],<ref name="latimes_evac" /> as well as many schools, civic centers, and churches throughout the area.<ref name="witch roars" /> The [[American Red Cross]] managed the evacuation centers.

Officials estimated that 12,000 gathered at Qualcomm stadium. Volunteers provided food, blankets, water, internet services, children's toys, massages, and a live [[rock music|rock]] band performance for those at the stadium.<ref name="surveyor">
{{cite news | url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071022-2315-bn22qcomm.html
| title=Surveyor makes order out of chaos for evacuees |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune
| date=October 22, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> Nearly all public schools and universities in the San Diego area were closed. Many businesses closed as well. To ensure clear roads for emergency vehicles, San Diego mayor [[Jerry Sanders (politician)|Jerry Sanders]] asked residents to stay home and inside.<ref>
{{cite news | url = https://www.usatoday.com/weather/wildfires/2007-10-23-wildfires-cover_N.htm
| title="Staggering" numbers flee amid fear and uncertainty| date = 2007-10-23
| author = William M. Welch, Patrick O'Driscoll and Chris Woodyard
| accessdate = 2007-10-24
| work=USA Today}}</ref>

By October 23, some evacuations were lifted, allowing about 50,000 residents from the cities of [[Del Mar, California|Del Mar]], [[Chula Vista, California|Chula Vista]], and [[Poway, California|Poway]], and the [[San Diego, California|San Diego]] neighborhoods of [[Torrey Pines, San Diego, California|Del Mar Heights]] and [[Scripps Ranch, San Diego, California|Scripps Ranch]] to return home.<ref name="mercurynews.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_7259428|title=Evacuation orders lifted for some San Diego neighborhoods|author=|publisher=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|date=13 October 2007|accessdate=22 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="nbcsandiego.com">[http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/14407302/detail.html Evacuees Allowed To Return To Del Mar, Chula Vista, Scripps Ranch and Poway]. [[NBC|NBC San Diego]]. Retrieved on 2007-10-23.</ref><ref>[http://www.10news.com/weather/14387615/detail.html Some Evacuees Return Home]. [[KGTV|KGTV 10 News]] (2007-10-24). Retrieved on 2007-10-24.</ref> On October 24, more evacuation orders for parts of [[Rancho Bernardo, San Diego|Rancho Bernardo]] and other areas further west were lifted.<ref name="RB hardest hit" /> However, the fires continued and damage was severe. The four major fires across San Diego County burned over {{convert|368000|acre|km2}} and destroyed or damaged 1,350 homes and 100 businesses since October 21, 2007.<ref name="worst may be over in SD">{{cite news | title=Fire damage severe, but worst may be over |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 23, 2007}}</ref>

Many major roads were closed as a result of fires and smoke. On October 22, the [[California Highway Patrol]] closed [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]] in both directions between State Routes [[California State Route 78|78]] and [[California State Route 56|56]].<ref name="witch roars"/> On October 24, 2007, the Ammo (Horno) Fire forced the closure of [[Interstate 5 (California)|Interstate 5]] as well as the [[Amtrak]] [[Pacific Surfliner|Surfliner]] service between [[Oceanside, California|Oceanside]] and [[San Clemente, California|San Clemente]].<ref name="Horno1"/> Traffic from Interstate 5 was diverted to [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]], which had reopened.<ref name="Horno2"/>

Officials from the [[San Diego Wild Animal Park]] said that its more than 3,500 animals were safe staying in their enclosures where they were protected by the park's fire break and irrigated areas. If the weather conditions worsened, the animals could retreat to their watering holes. However, many critically endangered animals such as the [[California condor]] were moved to the park's veterinary hospital, which is fire-resistant and fully equipped with sprinklers. Park spokesperson Yadira Galindo said that the animals were "alert but not showing any concerned behavior."

Fire data was provided by the [[California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection|CAL FIRE]] and independent news media. {{As of|2007|11}}:<ref name=firescope>{{cite web |url=http://www.firescope.org/fires.htm |title=Late October, 2007 California Wildfire Web Pages |publisher=FIRESCOPE: FIrefighting RESources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies|date=2007-11-09 |accessdate=2007-11-10}}</ref> the following fires burned in San Diego County:<ref name="CalFire"/><ref name="LATFiremap"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|+San Diego County
|-
! Fire name
! Date / time started
! Area burned
! Structures destroyed
! Injuries
! Containment Date
|-
| Witch (Creek)
| October 21 at 11:00 a.m.
| {{convert|197990|acre|km2|0}}
| 1,125 homes 509 outbuildings 239 vehicles 77 homes damaged 25 outbuildings damaged<ref name="Witch Fire">{{cite web |url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=225|title=Witch Fire General Information|publisher=cdfdata.fire.ca.gov|accessdate=2015-08-21}}</ref>
| 2 deaths 40 firefighters 2 civilians
| November 6
|-
| Harris
| October 21 at 9:23 a.m.
| {{convert|90440|acre|km2|0}}
| 206 homes 293 outbuildings 253 homes 2 commercial properties 12 homes damaged 3 outbuildings damaged<ref name="Harris Fire">{{cite web |url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=223|title=Harris Fire General Information|publisher=cdfdata.fire.ca.gov|accessdate=2015-08-21}}</ref>
| 5 deaths 40 firefighters 21 civilians
|
|-
| Poomacha (Palomar Mountain/Valley Center)
| October 23 at 3:13 p.m.
| {{convert|50176|acre|km2|2}}
| 143 homes 77 outbuildings
| 21 firefighters
|
|-
| Horno/Ammo
| October 23 at 9:20 p.m.
| {{convert|21084|acre|km2|2}} (Ammo Fire) {{convert|6000|acre|km2|2}} (Horno Fire)
|
| 6 firefighters
|
|-
| Rice
| October 22 at 4:16 p.m.
| {{convert|9472|acre|km2|1}}
| 206 homes 2 commercial properties 40 outbuildings
| 5 firefighters
|
|-
| McCoy
| October 21
| {{convert|400|acre|km2|2}}
| 1 residence 1 outbuilding
|
|
|-
| Coronado Hills
| October 22 at 1:50 a.m.
| {{convert|250|acre|km2|2}}
| 2 outbuildings
|
| October 22
|-
| Wilcox
| October 23
| {{convert|100|acre|km2|2}}
|
|
|
|}



====Witch Creek Fire====
[[Image:Red Sky at Morning San Diego 22 Oct 2007 v2.jpg|right|thumb|Smoke filling the sky at sunrise, on October 22, 2007.]]
[[Image:San Diego skyline against smoke from wildfires Oct 2007.jpg|right|thumb|San Diego skyline against the smoke at sunrise, on October 23, 2007.]]

{{Main|Witch Fire}}
The Witch Creek Fire was the largest of the October 2007 wildfires and surpassed the 1970 [[Laguna Fire]] as the third-largest fire in California history. Hundreds of thousands of residents were informed of evacuations through the [[Reverse 911]] system.<ref name="witch roars"/> This evacuation came almost four years to the day after the [[Cedar Fire (2003)|Cedar Fire of 2003]].

The fire started in Witch Creek Canyon near [[Santa Ysabel, California|Santa Ysabel]], and quickly spread to [[San Diego Country Estates, California|San Diego Country Estates]], [[Ramona, California|Ramona]], [[Rancho Bernardo, California|Rancho Bernardo]], [[Poway, California|Poway]] and [[Escondido, California|Escondido]]. Locals in the San Pasqual Valley area reported wind gusts of over {{convert|100|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. From there the fire jumped over [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]] and continued west, causing significant damage in [[Escondido, California|Lake Hodges]], [[Escondido, California|Del Dios]], and [[Rancho Santa Fe, California|Rancho Santa Fe]].

Strong [[Santa Ana winds]] pushed the fires west towards the coast.<ref name="witch roars">{{cite news | url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071022-0934-bn22fire3new.html | title=Witch fire roars west across Rancho Bernardo and Poway | author=Martinez, Angelica and Greg Gros |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 22, 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> San Diego County Sheriff William B. Kolendar stated that the Witch Creek Fire could be "well in excess of the [[Cedar Fire (2003)|Cedar Fire]] of 2003".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071022-0922-bn22fire3.html | title=Wildfires seen as eclipsing the Cedar fire of 2003 | author=Martinez, Angelica and Tony Manolatos |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 22, 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> While many coastal communities were evacuated as the fire moved west, the shifting winds prevented it from directly threatening those areas. During the duration of the Witch Fire, fire officials reported 80–100 feet-high flames within the wildfire.<ref name="5 years later">{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/pomerado-news/sdpn-witch-creek-fire-five-years-later-recovery-2012oct19-story.html|title=Witch Creek fire five years later: Recovery, preparation efforts continue|author=Elizabeth Marie Himchak|date=November 12, 2012|accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref>

On the morning of October 22, at 5:22 AM PDT, residents located between the Del Dios Highway and State Route 56 were ordered to evacuate.<ref name="witch roars"/><ref name="2007 San Diego firestorms AAR" /> By 9:30 P.M. PDT on October 22, a dispatch from the city of [[Del Mar, California|Del Mar]]'s web site stated: "For your safety, we are strongly advising that all Del Mar residents evacuate."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/voluntary-evacuation-in-place-for-all.html | title=Voluntary evacuation in place for all of Del Mar |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 22, 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> Evacuations were also ordered for [[Scripps Ranch, San Diego, California|Scripps Ranch neighborhood]], specifically "Everything south of Scripps Poway Parkway, north of MCAS Miramar, east of Interstate 15, and west of Highway 67". The [[Mesa Grande Indian Reservation]] was evacuated due to the Witch Fire.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/mesa-grande-indian-reservation-was.html | title=
Mesa Grande Indian reservation was evacuated |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 22, 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> Residents of the [[Kumeyaay|Barona Indian Reservation]] were advised to leave, though the evacuation was not mandatory. The [[casino]] on the reservation was closed. At approximately 01:00 UTC on October 23 (6:00 PM PDT on October 22), fire broke out near Wildcat Canyon to the south of Barona, where many houses were destroyed and lives lost in the Cedar Fire. Residents of Wildcat Canyon and Muth Valley were ordered to evacuate, and the road was closed.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071023-1125-bn23fires.html | title=Three major fires still burning out of control |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 23, 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-27}}</ref> During the late afternoon of October 23, the evacuations for [[Del Mar, California|Del Mar]], [[Chula Vista, California|Chula Vista]], [[Poway, California|Poway]], [[Torrey Pines, San Diego, California|Del Mar Heights]], and [[Scripps Ranch, San Diego, California|Scripps Ranch]] were lifted for many residents.<ref name="mercurynews.com"/><ref name="nbcsandiego.com"/> At 9:50 P.M. PDT on October 23, 2007, the town of [[Julian, California]] was ordered to evacuate. Due to the fires, there was no power or phone service in the town.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/mandatory-evacuations-in-julian.html | title=Mandatory evacuations in Julian |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 23, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>

Evacuation sites in San Diego County included [[Qualcomm Stadium]],<ref name="latimes_evac"/> [[Escondido High School]], [[Mission Hills High School]], [[Poway High School]], [[Mira Mesa Senior High School]], and the [[Del Mar Fairgrounds]].<ref name="witch roars"/>

Many major roads were also closed as a result of the fires and smoke. On October 22, the [[California Highway Patrol]] closed [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]] in both directions between State Routes [[California State Route 78|78]] and [[California State Route 56|56]].<ref name="witch roars"/> On October 24, 2007, the Ammo (Horno) Fire forced the closure of Interstate 5, as well as the [[Amtrak]] [[Surfliner]] service between [[Oceanside, California|Oceanside]] and [[San Clemente, California|San Clemente]].<ref name="Horno1"/> Traffic from Interstate 5 was being diverted to Interstate 15, which had reopened.<ref name="Horno2"/> 1,841 firefighters were assigned to the fire.

On Wednesday, October 24, 2007, some of the evacuation orders in place for [[Rancho Bernardo, San Diego|Rancho Bernardo]], [[Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego|Rancho Peñasquitos]], [[4S Ranch, California|4S Ranch]], and other areas west of Rancho Bernardo were lifted, after the western part of the Witch Creek Fire had been extinguished. However, the evacuation orders in place for eastern and northern Rancho Bernardo, around [[Lake Hodges]], were still in place.<ref name="RB hardest hit">{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/pomerado-news/sdpn-witch-creek-blaze-hits-rb-hardest-2007oct25-story.html|title=Witch Creek blaze hits RB hardest|author=spqnp873|date=October 25, 2007|accessdate=November 12, 2017}}</ref> On October 25, more of the evacuation orders for the Witch Fire around Rancho Bernardo were lifted, as the Witch Creek Fire became 45% contained.<ref name="still at risk">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/us/26cnd-calif.html|title=Homes Still at Risk on 6th Day of Fires|author=Maria Newman|publisher=The New York Times|date=October 26, 2007|accessdate=November 12, 2017}}</ref> Late on October 24, after the winds had reversed, the Witch Fire began approaching the nearby Poomacha Fire to the north, which was burning near [[Palomar Mountain]], with firefighters and officials fearing that the two wildfires would soon merge.<ref name="Witch Fire threatens to merge">{{cite web|url=http://www.10news.com/news/witch-fire-threatens-to-merge-with-poomacha-fire|title=Witch Fire Threatens To Merge With Poomacha Fire|author=|publisher=ABC 10News|date=October 24, 2007|accessdate=November 8, 2017}}</ref> On October 25, the Witch Fire and the Poomacha Fire merged into one gigantic complex fire, with the two wildfires joining to the south of Palomar Mountain.<ref name="2007 fire siege" /> On October 26, the Witch Fire also merged with the contained McCoy Fire,<ref name="Santiago Fire report" /> which had previously burned 400 acres in the [[Pine Hills, San Diego County, California|Pine Hills]] area, in eastern San Diego County.<ref name="10news" />

====Harris Fire====
[[Image:Harris fire Mount Miguel.jpg|thumb|right|The Harris Fire burning on Mount San Miguel, on the morning of October 23, 2007]]
[[Image:Aerial View of Harris Fire 10-23-07 1 pm.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of the Harris Fire on October 23, 2007, 12:05 pm.]]

{{Main|Harris Fire}}
The Harris Fire burned in a northwest direction from its starting point at Harris Ranch Road in the town of Potrero, in the far south of San Diego County, a few miles north of [[Tecate]], Mexico. On October 23, the fire approached eastern [[Chula Vista, California|Chula Vista]].<ref name="SOSD1">{{cite web |author=Anne Krueger, Leonel Sanchez and Ray Huard |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071022-1225-bn22harris.html |title=Harris fire burning unchecked, heads for Otay Lakes and Chula Vista |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=22 October 2007}}</ref>

Many communities were evacuated, with evacuation centers set up at a nearby high school and community center.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071022-9999-1n22harris.html | title=Harris fire roars unchecked in East County - 700 residents flee Barrett Junction |author=Neely, Liz and David Hasemyer and Karen Kucher |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 22, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref>

Thomas James Varshock, 52, of Potrero, died on his property during the Harris Fire on Sunday. His teenage son suffered burn injuries, along with four firefighters of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, who had attempted to rescue them.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/10/23/heroics_in_failed_san_diego_fire_rescue/2737/ | title=Heroics in failed San Diego fire rescue | publisher=United Press International | date=October 23, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref> The fire may also have caused the deaths of four [[migrant workers]] near the [[United States–Mexico border|U.S.–Mexico border]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071026/ap_on_re_us/california_wildfires | title= 4 charred bodies in Calif. migrant camp | publisher=Yahoo! news |agency=Associated Press | date=October 25, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-25 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071028062326/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071026/ap_on_re_us/california_wildfires |archivedate = 2007-10-28}}</ref> An estimated 1,210 firefighters battled this fire.<ref name="Harris firecount">{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/harris-fire-update_5349.html | title=Harris fire update 8:16pm October 23, 2007 |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 23, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>

The Harris Fire also burned into northern Mexico, near the town of [[Tecate]].<ref name="KPBS Google Map">{{cite news | url=http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&ie=UTF8&om=1&msa=0&msid=114250687465160386813.00043d08ac31fe3357571&ll=32.990236,-116.732483&spn=1.105782,1.757813&z=9&source=embed | title=KPBS Google Map | publisher=Google | date=October 24, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

====Other fires====
*[[Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton]] Fires:
**The Wilcox Fire began at Santa Margarita/33 Area behind [[Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton]].<ref name=cpp>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/scout/ssi/fire.asp |title=Southern California Wildfires Camp Pendleton Information Hotline (866) 430-2764 |date=2007-10-26 |accessdate=2007-10-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/flames-on-pendleton.html | title=Flames on Pendleton |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 23, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>
**The Ammo Fire was located near the Las Pulgas/43 Area and Basilone Road.<ref name="CalFire"/><ref name=cpp/>
**The Horno Fire burned {{convert|21084|acre|km2|0}}, and was located in the Basilone Road and Canyon Road/Las Flores/41 Area.<ref name=firescope/><ref name="Horno1">{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/camp-pendleton-fire-spread-to-6000.html | title=Camp Pendleton fire spread to {{convert|6000|acre|km2}} |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 24, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref><ref name="Horno2">{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/traffic-diverting-to-north-i-15.html | title=Traffic diverting to north I-15 |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 24, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref><ref name=cpp/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/southbound-i-5-open-at-pendleton.html | title=Southbound I-5 open at Pendleton |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 24, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>

[[Image:Palomar Mountain-Agua Tiba Fire October 2007.jpg|thumb|The Poomacha Fire: photo taken looking South towards San Diego from [[Temecula, California|Temecula]]]]


*The Poomacha Fire (or Mt. Palomar Fire) began as a structure fire on the La Jolla Indian Reservation, then established itself on [[Palomar Mountain]], merged with the Witch Fire on October 25,<ref name="2007 fire siege" /><ref name="mapping">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/629/629/7059758.stm|title=Mapping the Wildfires|author=|publisher=BBC News|date=October 26, 2007|accessdate=November 8, 2007}}</ref> and entered the [[Agua Tibia Wilderness]]. Because of steep terrain, it continued to burn after all other October 2007 fires were put out, before finally reaching full containment on November 13, 2007.<ref name="2007 fire siege" /><ref name=firescope/>


*The Rice Canyon Fire started in the early morning of October 22, in the Rice Canyon near [[Fallbrook, California|Fallbrook]]. It caused massive evacuations and the closure of Interstate 15.<ref name="CalFire"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/fallbrook-being-re-evacuated.html | title=Fallbrook being re-evacuated |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 23, 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>


*The Rice Canyon Fire was caused by downed power lines.<ref>"CalFire</ref>


*The Coronado Hills Fire started near [[San Marcos, California|San Marcos]], and burned south of [[Cal State San Marcos]].<ref name="CalFire"/>


*On October 23, ''The San Diego Union-Tribune'' reported on the El Capitan Fire: "A small brush fire that burned today around El Capitan Reservoir north of [[Alpine, California|Alpine]] is out, Cal Fire officials said about 9:30 p.m. Officials said the blaze consumed the vegetation near the reservoir and ran out of fuel."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/el-capitan-fire-out.html | title=El Capitan fire out |author=Repard, Pauline |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 23, 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>


*The McCoy Fire started on October 21, at the Cleveland National Forest, near the intersection of the Eagle Peak and Boulder Creek roads, west of Rancho Cuyamaca State Park.<ref name="2007 fire siege" /> It burned {{convert|400|acres|km2|1}} and destroyed at least one structure in Pine Hills.<ref name=10news>{{cite news |url=http://www.10news.com/news/fire-crews-surround-mccoy-fire |title=Fire Crews Surround McCoy Fire |publisher=10news.com |date=October 23, 2007 |accessdate=November 7, 2017}}</ref> Although the McCoy Fire was contained on October 23, the McCoy Fire eventually merged into the still-expanding Witch Creek Fire on October 26, shortly before the smaller fire was fully brought under control.<ref name="Santiago Fire report">{{cite web|url=https://www.firescope.org/training/aars/2007/2007_aar_santiago_fire.pdf|title=After Action Report Santiago Fire: October 21 - November 9, 2007|author=Chip Prather|publisher=Orange County Fire Authority|date=March 28, 2008|accessdate=November 8, 2017}}</ref>

===Los Angeles and Ventura counties===
[[File:Long Beach California Wildfires 2007-10-24.jpg|thumb|The skyline of Long Beach, California, looking east on the morning of October 24, 2007, with the sky filled with smoke.]]
Numerous fires burned in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

*The Buckweed Fire burned north of [[Santa Clarita, California|Santa Clarita]] in [[Agua Dulce, California|Agua Dulce]] and the community of [[Canyon Country, California|Canyon Country]], triggering many evacuations.<ref name = "latimes_buckweed">{{cite news | author = Jason Song, Jean-Paul Renaud, Scott Gold and Molly Hennessy-Fiske | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-agua23oct23,0,94211.story?coll=la-home-center | title = Buckweed fire becomes top priority | newspaper = Los Angeles Times | date =October 22, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-27}}</ref> This fire was the result of a child playing with matches.<ref name="buckweed_cause">{{cite web |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_7325669 |title=Boy with matches started fire that burned 21 homes |author=Daisy Nguyen |date=2007-10-30 |newspaper=Long Beach Press-Telegram |accessdate=2007-10-31}}</ref>


*The Canyon Fire burned around [[Malibu, California]], specifically in Malibu Canyon. It was the first of the October 2007 California wildfires to receive significant attention from the national media.<ref name = "nctimes_1022">{{cite news | url=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10/22/news/top_stories/22_17_0910_21_07.txt | title=South San Diego County fire kills 1, injures 17 | date=October 22, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> In addition to damaging or destroying 14 homes, the fire destroyed two Malibu landmarks: Castle Kashan and the Presbyterian Church.


*The Magic Fire started near The Old Road at Magic Mountain Parkway, within a half mile of the [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]] theme park on the west side of Santa Clarita. Flames came within a few yards of [[West Ranch High School]] and a large housing development in [[Stevenson Ranch]], but were pushed away. The fire is believed to have been caused accidentally by welders at a construction site.<ref name="CalFire"/>


*The Meadowridge Fire began near [[California State Route 14|Highway 14]] and [[San Fernando Road]] in Santa Clarita.<ref name="CalFire"/>


[[Image:Wildfire California Santa Clarita.jpg|thumb|right|[[Santa Clarita, California]], on the night of October 21, 2007]]
*The October Fire burned a small area in [[Santa Clarita, California|Santa Clarita]], destroying several homes in the Canyon Breeze Mobile Home Park.<ref name="CalFire"/>




*The Ranch Fire (or Castaic Fire) burned along the Los Angeles-[[Ventura County, California|Ventura]] county line about {{convert|5|mi|km}} north of Santa Clarita,<ref name="CalFire" /> in the [[Angeles National Forest|Angeles]] and [[Los Padres National Forest|Los Padres]] national forests. It surrounded the Ventura County community of [[Piru, California|Piru]]<ref name = "nctimes_1022"/><ref name = "ranch1">{{cite news|title=Ranch Fire surrounds Piru, Nightsky Fire contained, small blazes doused |work=Ventura County Star |date=October 22, 2007 |url=
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/oct/22/ranch-fire-closes-highway-126-29000-acres-burned/ |accessdate=2007-10-22 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023032723/http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/oct/22/ranch-fire-closes-highway-126-29000-acres-burned/ |archivedate=October 23, 2007}} {{dead link|date=November 2017}}</ref> and also threatened the communities of [[Fillmore, California|Fillmore]], [[Ventura, California|Ventura]] and [[Ojai, California|Ojai]].<ref name="CalFire" /> About 500 residences lie in the fire's path.<ref name="CalFire" /> Evacuations were recommended in all of Piru and portions of Fillmore.<ref name="ranch1"/> Angeles National Forest officials implemented a total forest closure on October 23.


*The Nightsky Fire burned a small area south of [[Moorpark, California|Moorpark]] in [[Ventura County, California|Ventura County]].<ref name="CalFire"/>
 
[[Image:Nasa satellite photo side by side 2007-10-22.jpg|center|thumb|600px|Two NASA satellite images from October 21, 2007 show how quickly the fires spread. The right image was taken just 3 hours 15 minutes after the left image.]]

Fire data has been provided by the [[California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection|CAL FIRE]] and independent news media. {{As of|2007|10}}:<ref name="CalFire"/><ref name="LATFiremap"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Los Angeles and Ventura counties
|-
! Fire Name
! Date / Time Started
! Area Burned
! Structures Destroyed
! Injuries
! Containment Date
|-
| Ranch (Castaic / Piru)
| October 20 at 9:42 p.m.<ref name="IW-Ranch">{{cite news|work=InciWeb Incident Information System | url=http://inciweb.org/incident/1002/ | title=InciWeb: Ranch Fire Wildland Fire |date=2007-10-23 | accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>
| {{convert|58401|acre|km2|1}}
| 1 home 9 outbuildings
|
|
|-
| Buckweed
| October 21 at 12:55 p.m.
| {{convert|38356|acre|km2|1}}
| 63
| 3 civilians 1 firefighter
|
|-
| Canyon
| October 21 at 4:50 a.m.
| {{convert|4565|acre|km2|1}}
| 22
| 3
|
|-
| Magic
| October 22 at 2:17 p.m.
| {{convert|2824|acre|km2|1}}
|
|
|
|-
| Meadowridge
| October 23 at 4:08 a.m.
| {{convert|40|acre|km2|3}}
|
|
|
|-
| Nightsky
| October 21 at 10:35 a.m.
| {{convert|35|acre|km2|1}}
|
|
|
|-
| October
| October 21 at 9:47 a.m.
| {{convert|25|acre|km2|1}}
| At least 3 mobile homes damaged
|
| October 30
|}

===Orange County===
{{main|Santiago Fire}}
[[Image:SantiagoFireFromAV.jpg|right|thumb|The Santiago Fire seen from Aliso Viejo, overlooking the city of Lake Forest, on October 23, 2007]]
[[Image:Fires cross a hill in SoCal October 2007.jpg|right|thumb|Fires burn across a hillside in Orange County.]]


*The [[Santiago fire of October 2007|Santiago Fire]] began shortly before {{nowrap|5:55 p.m.}} on October 21, 2007 in the foothills north of [[Irvine, California|Irvine]] and east of the city of [[Orange, California|Orange]] in [[Orange County, California|Orange County]]. The fire was reportedly started in two separate spots (along Santiago Canyon Road, west of Silverado Canyon Road); fire officials have attributed the source of the fire to [[arson]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/25/fire.arson/index.html?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail |title=Fire chief: 25,000-acre blaze was set |publisher=CNN |date=2007-10-26 |accessdate=2014-06-12 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6QI4LjzIJ|archivedate=2014-06-12}}</ref> On October 24, 2007, [[Governor]] [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] visited an evacuation center at [[El Toro High School]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=7861 |title=Governor Schwarzenegger Tours El Toro High School Evacuation Center |date=2007-10-24 |accessdate=2014-06-12 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6QI4GBbMI |archivedate=2014-06-12}}</ref> Schools and districts all over Orange County were closed on Friday, October 26, 2007 because of the smoke and bad air quality.<ref name="OCR1">{{cite news |url=http://www.ocregister.com/news/fire-canyon-blaze-1902172-santiago-road |date=October 23, 2007 |title=Fire headed towards forest, authorities fear |work=Orange County Register |accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref> A reward of $250,000 was offered for information leading to arrest of the arsonist(s). Fourteen homes and twenty four outbuildings were destroyed. Eight homes and three outbuildings were damaged, and sixteen firefighters were injured. In all, the fire burned {{convert|28445|acre|km2|1}}.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.ocfa.org/ocfamain.asp?pgn1=3 | title= OCFA | publisher= OCFA | date=2008-02-25 | accessdate=2008-03-21}}</ref>

===San Bernardino County===
Current data on the fires has been provided by the [[California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection|CAL FIRE]] and independent news media. As of October 30:<ref name=firescope/><ref name="CalFire"/><ref name="LATFiremap"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|+San Bernardino County
|-
! Fire Name
! Date / Time Started
! Area Burned
! Structures Destroyed
! Injuries
! Containment Date
|-
| Slide (Running Springs)
| October 22 at 8:02 a.m.<ref name="IW-Slide">{{cite news|work=InciWeb Incident Information System | url=http://inciweb.org/incident/1005/ | title=InciWeb: Slide Wildland Fire |date=2007-10-23 | accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>
| {{convert|12789|acre|km2|1}}
| 201 homes 3 outbuildings
|
|
|-
| Grass Valley
| October 22 at 5:08 p.m.<ref name="IW-GrassValley">{{cite news|work=InciWeb Incident Information System | url=http://inciweb.org/incident/1003/ | title=InciWeb: Grass Valley Wildland Fire |date=2007-10-23 | accessdate=2007-10-23}}/</ref>
| {{convert|1247|acre|km2|1}}
| 174 homes 2 outbuildings
|
|
|-
| Martin Ranch
| October 23 at 1:03 a.m.
| {{convert|123|acre|km2|1}}
| 1 home damaged
| 1 firefighter
|
|-
| Walker
| October 22 at 10:00 a.m.
| {{convert|160|acre|km2|1}}
|
| 2 firefighters
| Oct. 27
|-
| Cajon (Devore & Glen Helen)
| October 22 at 11:48 a.m.<ref name="IW-Cajon">{{cite news|work=InciWeb Incident Information System | url=http://inciweb.org/incident/1006/ | title=InciWeb: Cajon Wildland Fire |date=2007-10-23 | accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>
| {{convert|250|acre|km2|1}}
|
|
|
|-
| Little Mountain Fire
| October 22 at 3:30 p.m.
| {{convert|650|acre|km2|1}}
|
|
| October 22
|}



*The Slide or Green Valley Lake Fire burned near [[Green Valley Lake]], east of [[Lake Arrowhead, California|Lake Arrowhead]]. The Green Valley Lake, Arrowbear, and Running Springs communities were evacuated. 1,359 firefighters were assigned to the fire. The estimated cost is $1.2 million. Water pressure in local systems was lost and conditions were too extreme for fighters to continue efforts in some areas.<ref name="CalFire"/> The fire partially burned "Camp Helendade," owned by the [[Boy Scouts of America]]'s local council, the California Inland Empire Council. Helendade was originally given to the council in 1960 to replace another camp that had been burned.<ref name="helendade1">{{cite web | url = http://www.bsa-ciec.org/openrosters/vieworgpagelink.asp?orgkey=21&linkkey=15211 | title = Running Springs Fire Update| publisher = California Inland Empire Council | accessdate = 2007-10-23}}</ref><ref name="helendade2">{{cite web |date=October 24, 2007 |url = http://www.insidesocal.com/sb/fire/ | title = Fires Consume {{convert|5000|acre|km2}} Total |newspaper = The Sun Daily Bulletin | accessdate = 2007-10-23}}</ref><ref name="helendade3">{{cite web | url = http://www.camphelendade.org/ |title = Camp Helendade Website |publisher=Boy Scouts of America | accessdate = 2007-10-23}}</ref>


*The Grass Valley Fire was located just north of Lake Arrowhead.<ref name="KNBC2">{{cite news |url=http://www.knbc.com/news/14397191/detail.html |publisher=KNBC |date=2007-10-23 |title=Voluntary Evacuations Requested For Highland Residents |accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>


*Together, the Devore and Glen Helen Fires (or Cajon Fire) forced the closure of [[Interstate 15 in California|Interstate 15]] in the [[Cajon Pass]]. One fire was started by an overturned semi-truck.<ref name="Fontana">{{cite news | author = Stephen Wall, Gina Tenorio and Jannise Johnson | url=http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_7245363 | title=Fontana homes evacuated, freeways closed |work=Daily Bulletin |accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>


*The Little Mountain Fire threatened several homes and other structures near [[California State University, San Bernardino|Cal State San Bernardino]] before it was contained.<ref name="LATFiremap">{{cite news | url=http://www.latimes.com/firemap | title=LA Times Google maps | newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=October 22, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> Due to the cumulative effects of the area fires, the University closed for the week of October 23.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://news.csusb.edu/story_full.asp?articleID=5567 |title=Cal State San Bernardino classes canceled through Friday, Oct. 26 | publisher = Cal State San Bernardino | date = 2007-10-24 | accessdate = 2007-10-24}}</ref>

===Santa Barbara County===

*The Sedgewick Fire was the northernmost of the October 2007 California wildfires. It ignited around 6:00 a.m. PDT on October 21, 2007 from a downed power line. The fire burned a total of {{convert|710|acre|km2|1}} near [[Los Olivos, California|Los Olivos]]. Approximately 2000 people were affected and 800 homes threatened before the fire was 100% contained around 5:00 p.m. on October 22.<ref>{{cite news |title=Evacuation Warning Lifted for Santa Ynez Valley Fire |publisher=KEYT |date=October 22, 2007 |url=http://www.keyt.com/news/local/10702826.html |accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref>

===Riverside County===

*The Roca Fire was reported around 3:52 p.m. on October 21 in the vicinity of [[California State Route 79|SR 79]] at [[California State Route 371|SR 371]] in [[Aguanga, California|Aguanga]]. One home was destroyed and one injury was reported. It was 100% contained on October 22, after burning {{convert|270|acre|km2|1}}.<ref name="CalFire">{{cite web |title=Cal Fire|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/|date=October 23, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>

*The Rosa Fire, three clustered blazes in the Via Santa Rosa/Rancho California Road area of western [[Temecula, California|Temecula]] began October 22. It was 100% contained by October 24, after burning {{convert|411|acre|km2|1}}. Investigators suspect arson.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/25/fire.arson/?iref=mpstoryview |title=Officials: {{convert|22000|acre|km2|adj=on}} fire was set
|publisher=CNN |date=October 25, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-25}}</ref>

*The Wildomar Fire began around 12:30 on October 24 in [[Wildomar, California|Wildomar]] brush, between [[Interstate 15 (California)|I-15]] and [[Interstate 215 (California)|I-215]]. It was 100% contained within the same day, after burning {{convert|20|acre|km2|1}}.<ref name="southern border">{{cite news |url=http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_298072336.html |title=Fire Crews Eye Riverside County's Southern Border |publisher=CBS News |date=October 25, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-25 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071027093809/http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_298072336.html |archivedate = 2007-10-27}}</ref>

===Baja California===
Fires also burned in northern parts of the [[Mexican state]] of [[Baja California]].<ref name="reuters">{{cite news |author=Ford, Dana | url=http://lta.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-10-24T040529Z_01_N23304262_RTRIDST_0_INTERNACIONAL-CALIFORNIA-INCENDIOS-SOL.XML | title=Incendios en California dejan al menos cinco muertos |trans-title=Fires in California leave at least five dead |publisher=Reuters |date=24 October 2007 |language=es |accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref> The Harris Fire burned near [[Tecate]],<ref name="KPBS Google Map"/><ref name="yucatan">{{cite news | url=http://www.yucatan.com.mx/noticia.asp?cx=9$0000000000$3669023&f=20071024 | title=Las llamas logran cruzar la frontera | trans-title=Flames manage to cross the border | newspaper=Diario de Yucatán | date=24 October 2007 |language=es |accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref> and fires burned near [[Tijuana]] as well.<ref name="front">{{cite news | author = Durán, Laura | url=http://www.frontera.info/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Noticias/22102007/269469.aspx | title=Cierran tramo de carretera Tijuana-Tecate por incendio |trans-title=Tijuana–Tecate road section closes due to fire |newspaper=La Frontera | date=22 October 2007 |language=es |accessdate = 2007-10-24}}</ref>

More than fifteen thousands hectares were consumed by the wildfires in Baja California. Tijuana, Tecate and Ensenada were the municipalities more affected by the fire. In total there were seven fires caused by Santa Ana winds. The community of Maneadero, in the highlands of Ensenada, was the most affected.<ref name="Incendio">{{cite news | author = Hernandez, Jorge | url=http://www.esmas.com/noticierostelevisa/mexico/672182.html | title=Incendios forestales arrasan 15 hectareas en BC |trans-title=Forest fires devastate 15 hectares in Baja California |publisher=Noticieros Televisa| date=25 October 2007 |language=es |accessdate = 2007-11-12}}</ref>

==Wind and weather==
[[Image:SantaAnaWinds QuikSCAT 2002feb.jpg|thumb|[[QuikSCAT]] image from 2002 showing the speed of the Santa Ana winds (m/s)]]
The fires occurred at the end of a dry summer and were exacerbated by the seasonal [[Santa Ana winds]], which were blowing at an unusually high strength at that time. ''[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]'' reported, "Santa Ana winds blowing up to {{convert|60|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} combined with temperatures into the 90s to create in the worst possible fire conditions."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071022-9999-1n22main.html | title=County asks for 1,000 more firefighters | author=McDonald, Jeff and Janine Zuniga and Kristina Davis|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 22, 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> At one point swirling winds threatened to bring fire into densely populated urban areas.<ref name=Independent/> At the height of the Santa Ana winds on October 22, the winds reached sustained speeds of {{convert|90|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, with wind gusts up to {{convert|112|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} reported.<ref name="2007 fire siege" />

Southern California was in the midst of an unusual drought; in [[Los Angeles, California]], with only 3.21 in (82 mm) of precipitation in 2006–2007, it was the driest year on record.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11778590&ft=1&f=1001 |title = NPR: Water Flows in Los Angeles Despite Drought|author = Kahn, Carrie |date=July 6, 2007 | accessdate = 2007-10-24}}</ref> The combination of wind, heat, and dryness turned the [[chaparral]] into fire fuel. Officials believed that some of the fires generated their own winds, similar to the [[Oakland Firestorm of 1991]]. The effects of the smoke were felt as far away as Brentwood, California (in the East Bay, near Stockton), where it impacted local weather. The high-speed Santa Ana winds also rendered the use of dropping water from fire fighting aircraft inefficient; until such winds abate, most payloads of water are just dispersed by the wind over an area so large that the water evaporates before it can reach a large fire on the ground.
[[Image:Oct 21-22 2007 Skyline Comparison.JPG|thumb|center|400px|A comparison of the [[Simi Valley, California|Simi Valley]] skyline from October 21, 2007 (left and center) to October 22, 2007 (right)]]

==Impact==
[[Image:SDFIRE2007 058brightsharp.jpg|right|thumb|Evacuees at evacuation site [[Mira Mesa High School]]]]
[[Image:Firehome3.jpg|thumb|right|The remains of a home destroyed by the Witch Creek Fire]]
On October 21, the Harris Fire damaged and disabled the [[Path 46|Southwest Power Link]], a 500,000-[[volt]] power line from [[Arizona]] to San Diego.<ref name="sds1">{{cite news |url=http://www.sddt.com/Search/article.cfm?SourceCode=20071023czd|title=Fires wreak havoc on region's electricity supply|author=Jeran Wittenstein | publisher=San Diego Daily Transcript | date=October 23, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-26}}</ref> [[Power outage]]s were reported in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and other counties on October 22 to 333,500 [[Southern California Edison]] customers, most being restored within 24 hours. The power outage also affected the areas of [[Ojai, California|Ojai]], [[Oxnard, California|Oxnard]], [[Simi Valley, California|Simi Valley]], [[Santa Clarita, California|Santa Clarita]], [[Thousand Oaks, California|Thousand Oaks]], [[Agoura Hills, California|Agoura Hills]], [[Rialto, California|Rialto]], [[Fontana, California|Fontana]], [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]], [[Rancho Cucamonga, California|Rancho Cucamonga]], [[Mira Loma, California|Mira Loma]], [[Hesperia, California|Hesperia]], [[Corona, California|Corona]], [[Bloomington, California|Bloomington]], [[Irvine, California|Irvine]], [[Calimesa, California|Calimesa]] and [[Rubidoux, California|Rubidoux]]. This outage also caused 230 people to be without power in [[Malibu, California|Malibu]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.knbc.com/news/14390468/detail.html?dl=mainclick|title=SoCal Crews Respond To 'Fire After Fire'|publisher=KNBC | date=October 22, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> The California Independent System Operator Corp declared an energy transmission emergency in southern California on October 23, due to wildfires affecting the lines. 500,000-, 230,000- and 138,000-[[volt]] lines were disabled in San Diego, and some lines in other areas were also disabled. 24,992 people lost power, due to the lack of power from the [[power grid]].<ref name="sds1"/> During the crisis, Mexico provided power to help augment the electrical needs of the San Diego area.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1026/p01s09-ussc.html | title=From far and wide, helpers pour into a fire-stricken San Diego | publisher=The Christian Science Monitor | date=October 26, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-28}}</ref>

Authorities said that the evacuation, of more than 900,000 people, was the largest in the history of California.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-evacuate24oct24,0,627804.story?coll=la-home-center | title=Scale of the fires' disruption on display at San Diego stadium | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=October 23, 2007 | first1=H. G. | last1=Reza | first2=Jill | last2=Leovy | first3=Alex | last3=Pham |accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref> By mid-morning on October 22, 2007, thousands of evacuees had taken shelter in [[Qualcomm Stadium]] and other locations throughout San Diego.<ref name="latimes_evac"/> On the afternoon of October 22, 2007, the [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]] evacuated some planes from [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar]] to other military bases in California and [[Arizona]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/miramar-evacuating-some-aircraft.html | title=Miramar evacuating some aircraft|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 22, 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> The [[United States Navy|Navy]] moved all non-essential personnel from [[Naval Base San Diego]] barracks onto nearby vessels to accommodate refugees.<ref name="cnn military">{{cite news|title= Military helps fight fires while personnel evacuated|publisher=CNN |date=October 23, 2007|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/23/fire.military/index.html |accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref> The [[San Diego Wild Animal Park]] moved some animals to the on-site animal hospital for their protection.<ref name="witch roars"/>

The Horno Fire had charred {{convert|6000|acre|km2}} in Camp Pendleton by 4:00 A.M PDT, on October 24, 2007. It caused the closure of Interstate 5 and it also caused [[Amtrak]] to stop [[Surfliner]] service between [[Oceanside, California|Oceanside]] and [[San Clemente, California|San Clemente]].<ref name="Horno1"/> Traffic was diverted to Interstate 15, which had itself been closed earlier.<ref name="Horno2"/>
Illegal migrant workers were endangered by the crisis, sometimes staying at work in the fields in mandatory evacuation zones. Many lived in nearby canyons and distrusted officials.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15634399 | title=Fires Highlight Safety Needs of Migrant Workers | publisher=NPR |author=Amy Isackson | date=October 25, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-28}}</ref> When fleeing the fires, some were arrested, while others were turned away from shelters due to lack of adequate identification.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.kcbs.com/Immigrants-Step-Out-of-the-Smoke/1141409 | title=Immigrants Step Out of the Smoke | publisher=KCBS | date=October 27, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-28}}</ref> Some Mexican firefighters expressed concern about their countrymen, while others felt the migrant workers were aware of the risks they were taking.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bomberosx27oct27,1,4864765.story?coll=la-headlines-california | title=Mexican fire crew joins the fight | newspaper=Los Angeles Times |author=Ari B. Bloomekatz | date=October 27, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-28}}</ref> <includeonly>coyotehowls</includeonly>

Only a few cases of looting were documented. Six people were arrested for stealing supplies from Qualcomm stadium,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/illegal-immigrants-arrested-for.html | title=Illegal immigrants suspected of stealing supplies |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=October 24, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref> another was arrested for theft after being found in possession of stolen goods in the Jamul fire area,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/another-looting-arrest.html | title=Another looting arrest |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=October 24, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref> and two were arrested near the Tecate border crossing.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/two-looting-arrests-in-tecate.html | title=Two looting arrests in Tecate|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=October 24, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>

=== Air quality and effects on health ===
The concentration of [[Particulate#Health effects|particulate matter 10 micrometers and smaller (designated PM10)]] reached unhealthy levels as a result of the fires. PM10 particles are small enough to enter deep into the lungs, and possibly the bloodstream. San Diego city attorney [[Michael Aguirre]], citing concerns over weather conditions and air quality, urged the city to consider a voluntary evacuation of the entire city.<ref name="Aguirre 1">{{cite news| url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071024/news_1n24aguirre.html | title=Aguirre wants San Diego evacuated in wake of wildfires | author=Vigil, Jennifer |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=October 24, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>

{{Panorama
|image = Image:Wildfires in Eastern San Diego East County 2007.jpg
|fullwidth = 4889
|fullheight = 1040
|caption = Smoke fills the horizon in East San Diego County, October 22, 2007.
|height = 200
}}

==Response==
[[File:H-60S Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85.jpg|right|thumb|At [[Naval Air Station North Island]], a plane captain launches an [[SH-60 Seahawk#MH-60S Knighthawk (Sierra)|MH-60S Seahawk]] from [[List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons#Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons|Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron]] (HSC) 85 to conduct operations in support of the [[California Department of Forestry]]'s efforts in combating the San Diego wildfires.]]
[[File:Firefighters battle a blaze SoCal October 2007.jpg|right|thumb|Firefighters battle a blaze near Irvine, California.]]
Government agencies and volunteers worked together to mitigate the effects of the fires. According to the state of California's Consolidated Response web page, "There are 17 active fires in Southern California. The priority for fighting fires as of 19:30 on October 21 is the Buckweed, Witch, Harris, Canyon, Ranch, Santiago, and Sedgewick Fires."<ref name="CalFiresBrief">{{cite news | url=http://www.calfires.com/ | title=Southern California Fire Report | work=CalFires.com | publisher=State of California | date=October 22, 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> [[March Air Reserve Base]] was the primary staging area for relief supplies coordinated by the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]].<ref name="cnn military"/>

With many businesses and schools closed, some people used their time off to help others. An estimated 10,000 evacuees gathered at [[Qualcomm Stadium]], the largest shelter point in San Diego. Besides food, blankets and water, volunteers provided toys for children, massages, and a live [[rock and roll]] performance.<ref name="surveyor" /> [[Community Emergency Response Team|CERT]] teams, in various cities, received their first activation since the program's inception in this region. Trained volunteers provided assistance ranging from coordinating relief, to acting as a fire department auxiliary.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 25, 2007 |author= Kelly Strodl |url=http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2007/10/25/publicsafety/dpt-certused25.txt |title=(lost) |newspaper=Daily Pilot  |accessdate=2014-02-07}}{{dead link|date=November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Emergency volunteers' debut lauded | url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/wildfires/20071126-9999-1m26cert.html | newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] | date=2007-11-26 | accessdate=2009-05-12}}</ref> Religious groups such as Victim Relief Ministries, Giving Children Hope, Hope Force International, Apostolic World Relief, and the Salvation Army opened places of worship, donated supplies, and fed workers and evacuees.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.kansascity.com/255/story/334574.html | title=Faith community reaches out to fire victims |newspaper=The Kansas City Star |date=26 October 2007|accessdate=2007-10-28 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071030074327/http://www.kansascity.com/255/story/334574.html |archivedate = 2007-10-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305710,00.html | title=Religious Group Offers Gentle Comfort to Wildfire Victims |publisher=Fox News |date=28 October 2007|accessdate=2007-10-28}}</ref>

The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] contributed twelve engines for firefighting efforts. The [[California National Guard|National Guard]] called more than 2,400 troops,<ref>{{cite press release | author=LTC Jon Seipmann | title=Press Release 10-17 | url=http://www.calguard.ca.gov/publicaffairs/Pages/PressReleases/October%2007/PressRelease10-17.aspx |publisher=California National Guard | date=2007-10-25 | accessdate=2009-05-12}}</ref> with 17,000 available if needed; of which 100 California National Guard medical personnel provided medical assistance.<ref name="cnn military"/> Six crews from the Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 based at [[Naval Air Station North Island]] were assigned to battle the Witch Creek fire. They flew [[MH-60 Seahawk]] helicopters equipped with a 420-gallon water bucket and they were the only local Navy teams trained to fight fires from the air. [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar]] contributed several aircraft as well as fire fighting trucks to operations based in Ramona.<ref name="six navy">{{cite news | url=http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/military/20071022-1752-bn22helos.html | title=Six Navy copter crews helping fight wildfires |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribun e|date=October 22, 2007|accessdate=2014-06-12 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6QI4iXKBC |archivedate=2014-06-12}}</ref> One of the larger [[airtanker]]s, the [[JRM Mars|Martin Mars]], sent through a private contract from its home in [[Port Alberni, British Columbia]] on October 25, landed on [[Lake Elsinore]] in [[Riverside County, California]]. It has a 7,000 gallon capacity. Two other airtankers and their crews from [[Quebec]] worked on the fires, part of an annual three-month contract with the state of California.<ref name="BC Water bomber">{{cite news |url=http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2007/10/24/privately-owned-bc-water-bomber-to-help-fight-california-fires| title=Privately owned B.C. water bomber flying to fight California fires | publisher=CBC News | date=October 23, 2007 | accessdate=2014-06-12|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6QI4ezGIW|archivedate=2014-06-12}}</ref>

[[Governor of California|California Governor]] [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] declared a [[state of emergency]] in seven California counties where fires burned. [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] concurred<ref name="fed_disaster"/> and visited the region on Thursday, October 25, 2007.<ref name="worst may be over in SD"/><ref name="MSNBC1">{{cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21435512/ |title=Bush promises aid for victims of California fires |agency=Associated Press |date=October 23, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>

[[United States House of Representatives|Rep.]] [[Duncan Hunter]] criticized state fire officials for delaying the use of Marine helicopters until CalFire spotters were in position to coordinate their efforts. However, California Fire Marshal Kate Dargan said that the Marines and officials at CalFire were following procedures worked out with the military after serious problems with air coordination during the 2003 California wildfires. Other state officials also praised the federal response. Aaron McLear, a spokesman for Schwarzenegger, said the governor "is getting everything he needs from the federal government".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/did-state-delay-marine-copters.html | title=Did the state delay Marine copters? |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 23, 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>

''[[NBC Nightly News]]'' reported that with the evacuations reaching about 950,000 people, this was the largest peacetime movement of Americans since the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] era,<ref name="USNews">{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_071024.htm |work=U.S. News & World Report |date=2007-10-24 |title=USNews.com Political Bulletin |accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref> although similar evacuation figures were cited for [[Hurricane Rita]]<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.state.tx.us/page.jsp?language=eng&pageId=hurricane-rita | title=Hurricane Rita Information | work=Texas Online | publisher=State of Texas | accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref> and [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/28/hurricane.katrina/ |title=New Orleans braces for monster hurricane |publisher=CNN |date=August 29, 2005}}</ref>

On November 6, 2007, the state of California reported that the fires were under control. On November 9, the last vole of wildfires were finally contained. According to the state's consolidated report on the fires, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger "called on the Blue Ribbon Task Force to assess the next steps to take at federal, state and local levels of government to prevent and fight future fires. Additionally, the Governor asked the task force to review the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Fire Commission’s recommendations, generated after the 2003 fires, to evaluate if the recommendations are still the best and most effective ways in preventing and fighting fires."<ref name="CA 2007-11-06">{{cite news | url=http://www.calfires.com/ | title=Governor Calls on Blue Ribbon Task Force to Review State Fire Response | publisher=State of California | date=November 6, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-06}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Commons|California wildfires of October 2007}}
*[[Witch Fire]]
*[[Recloser]]
*[[Corral Fire (2007)]]
*[[2003 California wildfires]]
*[[December 2017 California wildfires]]
*[[2008 California wildfires]]
*[[May 2014 San Diego County wildfires]]
*[[2017 California wildfires]]
**[[October 2017 Northern California wildfires]]
**[[December 2017 Southern California wildfires]]
*[[List of California wildfires]]
*[[Pacific Gas and Electric]]
*[[San Diego Gas and Electric]]
*{{C|Wildfires in California|Wildfires in California-related topics}}
*[[FIRESCOPE]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|2007 Wildfires in California}}
{{wikinews|Wildfires burn in southern California}}

===Maps===
* [http://www.fire.ca.gov/master_content/downloads/Statewide_Fires_111007_am_96dpi.pdf CalFire map]
* [http://www.latimes.com/firemap LA Times managed Google map showing fire locations and relevant information]
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21436901/ MSNBC managed Virtual Earth map showing fire locations]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&ie=UTF8&om=1&msa=0&msid=114250687465160386813.00043d08ac31fe3357571&ll=32.990236,-116.732483&spn=1.105782,1.757813&z=9&source=embed KPBS managed Google map with detailed San Diego area information]
*[http://www.sdcountyemergency.com/newsreleases/10242007_1600hrs_Evac_FirePerem.pdf San Diego County map showing evacuated areas]
* [http://www.cbs8.com/misc/fires_oct_07/maps.html CBS 8: San Diego fire maps]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107327873899641045650.00043d1de33aaa4eb6ffb&om=1&ll=33.716608,-117.675847&spn=0.200187,0.32135&z=12 Orange County Register detailed map of Santiago fire]

===Academics and Research===
*[http://map.sdsu.edu MAP.SDSU.EDU] - mapping, database and geographic information system for the 2003 and 2007 fires, managed by the ''San Diego GIS force group,'' and hosted by [[San Diego State University]]
*[http://www.sdfirerecovery.net The San Diego Fire Recovery Network] - a Southern California organization which addresses the widespread ecosystem changes in San Diego County caused by the 2003 and 2007 wild fires
**[http://map.sdsu.edu/firenet The GIS Data Center for San Diego Fire Recovery Network] - hosted by San Diego State University
*[http://www.radicalurbantheory.com/mdavis/letmalibuburn.html ''Let Malibu Burn: A political history of the Fire Coast'' by Mike Davis]
* [http://webarchives.cdlib.org/a/calfires 2007 Southern California Wildfires Web Archive] at the California Digital Library.
* [http://www.10news.com/news/witch-fire-threatens-to-merge-with-poomacha-fire Witch Fire Threatens To Merge With Poomacha Fire] - ABC 10News
* [https://www.cccarto.com/calwildfire/ Southern California's Worst Brush Fires]

{{Clear}}
{{2007 California wildfires}}

[[Category:2007 California wildfires|*]]
[[Category:Wildfires in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Wildfires in Ventura County, California]]
[[Category:Wildfires in Santa Barbara County, California]]
[[Category:Wildfires in Orange County, California]]
[[Category:Wildfires in Riverside County, California]]
[[Category:Wildfires in San Bernardino County, California]]
[[Category:Wildfires in San Diego County, California]]

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October 2007 California wildfires

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