CHESSNOID

It seems like we are having more fires lately.  This latest firestorm was actually close by. We had about 7 fires going simultaneously the last few days.  I could actually see the smoke in the sky from different directions.  We had the Montecito fire where a few celebrity homes burned. Reuters:

“Back to the Future” actor Christopher Lloyd reportedly lost his Montecito home in the fire. The small Southern California community, in hills with sweeping ocean views, is also home to talk show host Oprah Winfrey, director Steven Spielberg, comedian Steve Martin and actor Rob Lowe.

Comedian Ellen DeGeneres once owned a multimillion dollar home in the area, but sold it to Google executive Eric Schmidt.

For Winfrey, who was in Chicago working on her show as she monitored the fire’s spread near her 42-acre estate, a chief concern was her dogs.

“We already had a plan for getting the dogs out and going to the Four Seasons (hotel) because they take dogs,” she said on her talk show on Friday.

“When it’s in your neighborhood, when it’s your friends, when it’s your house you feel differently about it. You see it differently,” she said.

Nestled at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, Montecito is only about 90 miles from Los Angeles and entertainers happily call the quiet and peaceful community of 10,000 residents home.

The other fires were more local in the areas of Brea, Anaheim Hills, Corona, Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, and Yorba Linda. I have some family who live out there but they safe and fine. I think there are still evacuations going on.  ABC7:

As of Sunday evening, the Orange County fire burned some 23,720 acres and destroyed at least 208 homes. The fire is 15 percent contained, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. The fire still threatens 3,500 homes and some 26,000 people remain under mandatory evacuations.

All 33 schools in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District will be closed Monday due to the wildfires affecting the cities of Anaheim Hills, Brea and Yorba Linda. Child care sites throughout the district will also be closed. Officials said they anticipate that schools will be back in session Tuesday, according to the district’s Web site. There is no containment on the fire.

As many as 40,000 people were forced out of their homes across four counties; including Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

More hot, dry weather was expected Sunday. Winds were relatively light compared to sustained winds around 30 mph Saturday. A few gusts hit 60 mph in the Anaheim Hills.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger late Saturday proclaimed a state of emergency in Orange and Riverside counties due to the wildfire.

More than 100 structures have been damaged or destroyed. Fourteen homes and 86 apartments in Anaheim, 92 homes in Yorba Linda, 16 homes in Corona, and three structures, including a building at Brea High School, have been burned.

Just in case if you need it:

EVACUATION CENTERS:

Walnut High School, 400 N. Pierre Rd., Walnut (off La Puente Road)
Diamond Bar High School, 21400 E. Pathfinder Rd., Diamond Bar
Ayala High School, 14255 Peyton Dr., Chino Hills (for Sleepy Hollow/Carbon Canyon area)
Brea Community Center, 695 Madison, Brea (south of Birch St., north of Imperial Hwy.)
Corona Vista High School, 1150 W. 10th St., Corona (west of Lincoln Ave.)
Katella High School, 2200 E. Wagner Ave., Anaheim (State College Blvd. and E. Wagner Ave.)
Valencia High School, 500 N. Bradford, Placentia; (north of Chapman Ave.)

ANIMAL INFORMATION: Animals can be taken to the O.C. Shelter at 561 The City Dr. and large animals can be taken to Los Alamitos Race Course. The number is (714) 995-1234. Animals can also be taken to the Inland Valley Humane Society at 500 Humane Way in Pomona. Residents can call (909) 623-7777 or the 24-hour emergency number at (909) 594-9858.

Helicopter aerials showed pictures of the Green River Golf Course burning, as gusty winds continued to push the fire into Yorba Linda and toward Brea at about 10 a.m. By noon, flames were racing toward Anaheim Hills.

Corona firefighters had requested assistance for immediate evacuations on Crestridge Drive and another residential street known as Crest Line, according to Orange County fire and CHP personnel.

The neighborhood of homes clustered nearby stands next to the Santa Ana River just north of the westbound 91. A caller to the California Highway Patrol at 9:28 a.m. said flames were getting close to or reaching her home, according to the CHP.