A Quick Look At The Fire: What We Now Know By The Numbers...

The Santiago Fire is still burning. Hard to believe, but true! Currently we are not in ANY danger, and probably won't be. But here are some facts that I want to record:

As of Wednesday night at 11p.m. 11/7/07 :

• Acres burned: 29,000
• Containment: 98%
• Control: Not under control. Potential threats including rolling debris and boulders and hot spots with extremely dry fuel.
• Full containment expected: Friday 11/9/07 (However this date keeps getting pushed back)
• Help: 1948 firefighters, 167 engines/trucks, 32 handcrews, 18 bulldozers, 634 officers from the OC Sheriff's Dept., 100 plus CHPatrol officers.
• Air support: 12 helicopters, 8 air tankers, 13 water tenders
• Injuries: 16 firefighters
• Structures burned: 8 residences damaged and 15 destroyed, 12 outbuildings damaged and 9 destroyed.
• Cause: ARSON!
• Roads still only open to residents with ID.
• Cleveland National Forest still closed.

I think that the above support numbers are probably lower with containment coming soon. But still pretty staggering.

(We got some charcoal filters for our AC/Heating to keep the smoke out while the fire was at it's worst. We broiled some salmon for dinner a couple of nights ago, and to our surprise, NO fishy smell at all!)