January 4, 2001 - FIRECAT on Stand-By for Wildfire in Alpine, CA
News Release
FIRECAT on Stand-By
Wildfire breaks out in foothills near San Diego, CA, over 10,000 acres consumed
January 3, 2001
A wildfire broke out in San Diego County. The city of Alpine, CA, was ravaged by intense fire and high winds. Dubbed the "Viejas Fire," named after a nearby Indian Reservation, the blaze was apparently started by someone tossing a burning cigarette into the dry brush along Interstate Highway 8 in the foothills east of San Diego, CA. Strong Santa Ana winds (extremely dry winds that blow off the desert) made firefighting nearly impossible and hampered air tanker water drops. Many homes were burned and two (2) Indian Casinos and an Outlet Mall were evacuated.
January 4, 2001
The Second Generation TV-140 FIRECAT is on-call according to Daryl Paige, Combined Dispatch Center, Monte Vista, CA, as they were trying to "get a handle on just what we are dealing with" and trying to get nearly 1,400 additional firefighters and smoke-jumpers into the area.
January 5, 2001
Changes in wind direction and intensity have aided firefighters in containing the advance of wildfire outside of Alpine, Ca. Mike Conrad, fire incident manager, said that numerous firefighters and equipment have been sent home and there are "signs of optimism" and hope that the fire will be contained by Saturday. With the help of the westerly breeze that is far cooler and contains much more moisture, the fire is no longer "running across the landscape," according to Mike Conrad.
For more detailed information see: www.cnn.com (search: wildfire)