Any Type of Fire is Going to be Dangerous

Powerful winds rolled into San Diego County putting drivers and firefighters on alert Saturday. 

A high wind warning went into effect for San Diego’s mountain areas.  Inland valleys have been under a wind advisory.  Wind gusts near 60 miles per hour were reported in San Diego’s East County.

The Santa Ana winds meant dangerous conditions for wildfire and hazardous conditions for drivers on the road.  Cal Fire officials said if a fire starts they're ready to send all resources within a 10 to 15 mile radius.

"Any type of fire is going to be dangerous right now in the East County with those high winds," Cal Fire Captain Daryll Pina said.

Cal Fire said they’re fully staffed with 18 engines, 3 air tankers, 4 bulldozers and more than a dozen hand crews.

"We have a lot of equipment out there.  We're going to hit it hard and fast and try and keep the fires to 10 acres and less," Pina said.

Cal Fire officials cautioned residents to be on the lookout for downed power lines and report them.  Pina said the recent rainfall would help slow down the rate a wildfire could spread.  But he said there is still plenty of dry brush out there and homeowners need to be vigilant to keep that defensible space cleared around their homes.
 
The California Highway Patrol advised high profile vehicles not to drive in these Santa Ana conditions.  Officers said if you do plan to be on the road keep your eyes on what’s ahead.

"If a car in front of you all of a sudden changes lanes and didn't signal or rocks back and forth, there's a good chance you're going to hit a gust of wind by the time you get to their location," Brian Pennings with the California Highway Patrol said.
 
Descanso resident Joe Bradetich described the windy driving conditions.

"It feels like somebody's pushing your vehicle," Bradetich said.  He said early Saturday he had a close call on the road.

"I was coming through La Mesa by Fletcher Parkway and a lady almost lost control of her mini van.  She was right next to me in the middle lane," Bradetich said.

CHP officers didn’t report any wind-related accidents Saturday.  Just false alarms coming from roadside call boxes blowing open.

“Unfortunately, dispatch doesn't know if somebody's there and needs help or it's just the wind," Pennings said.