{{Short description|2007 wildfire in Southern California}} {{Distinguish|Creek Fire (2017)}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Good article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{For|similar names|Witchfire (disambiguation)}}{{Infobox wildfire | title = Witch Creek fire | partof = the October 2007 California wildfires | image = Witch Creek Fire on Bernardo Mt, Escondido, California.jpg | caption = The Witch Creek Fire burning down the northern side of Bernardo Mountain the morning of October 23, 2007 | location = San Diego County, California, US | cost = $1.339 billion (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|1.339|2007|r=3}} billion in {{Inflation/year|US}}) | date = {{Unbulleted list|{{Start date|2007|10|21}} – |{{End date|2007|11|13}}}}{{efn|The original Witch Fire perimeter was fully contained on November 6.}} | area = {{convert|197,990|acre|km2|0}} | cause = Downed electric power lines | landuse = | buildings = {{ubl|1,265 residential structures|587 outbuildings}} | fatalities = 2 civilians | injuries = 55 firefighters *15 injured by the Poomacha Fire }}
The '''Witch Creek Fire''', also known as the '''Witch Fire''',<ref name="2007 San Diego fires AAR">{{cite web |date=December 2007 |title=After Action Report - October 2007 Wildfires |url=https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/fire/pdf/witch_aar.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212031708/https://www.air-worldwide.com/_public/NewsData/001563/AIRCurrents_CaliWildfires.pdf|archive-date=Dec 12, 2017 |access-date=11 November 2017 |publisher=Air Worldwide Corporation}}</ref> was the second-largest wildfire of the 2007 California wildfire season,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://calfire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/2007Summary.pdf|title=CAL FIRE 2007 Wildland Fire Summary|publisher=CalFire|date=September 2011|access-date=December 11, 2017|archive-date=December 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208203300/http://calfire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/2007Summary.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> burning {{convert|197,990|acre|km2|0}} of land in San Diego County. Fanned by powerful Santa Ana winds, the Witch Creek Fire rapidly spread westward and consumed large portions of San Diego County. During its duration, flames reached {{convert|80|to|100|ft|m}} high, and the Witch Fire exhibited the characteristics of a firestorm at its height.
On the morning of October 22, 2007, about a day after the Witch Creek Fire had ignited, residents of San Diego County were ordered to evacuate through the Reverse 911 system. Eventually, the Witch Creek Fire led to the evacuations of 500,000 people across San Diego County. It also contributed to mass evacuations across much of Southern California, which saw 1,000,000 residents evacuate, the largest in Californian history.<ref>{{cite news |last=McLean |first=Demian |author2=Peter J. Brennan |date=October 24, 2007 |title=California Fires Rout Almost 1 Million People, Kill 5 (Update7) |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=aufnKvlM.Et8&pid=newsarchive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629010510/https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=aufnKvlM.Et8&pid=newsarchive |archive-date=Jun 29, 2011}}</ref> The Witch Fire caused at least $1.142 billion (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|1.142|2007|r=3}} billion in {{Inflation/year|US}}) in insured damages alone, becoming the costliest wildfire of 2007. {{As of|2022|post=,}} the Witch Fire is the nineteenth-largest wildfire in modern California history,<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Top 20 Largest California Wildfires |url=https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/our-impact/fire-statistics/featured-items/top20_acres.pdf?rev=be2a6ff85932475e99d70fa9458dca79&hash=A355A978818640DFACE7993C432ABF81 |access-date=December 9, 2023 |website=CAL FIRE |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102141652/https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/our-impact/fire-statistics/featured-items/top20_acres.pdf?rev=be2a6ff85932475e99d70fa9458dca79&hash=A355A978818640DFACE7993C432ABF81 |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as the seventh-most destructive wildfire on record in California.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires |url=https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/our-impact/fire-statistics/featured-items/top20_destruction.pdf?rev=ee6ea855632a4b56a46adea1d3c8022f&hash=5B8B3A1A35CBB52CB0ED7A010F0B52E0 |access-date=December 9, 2023 |publisher=CAL FIRE |archive-date=September 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905060114/https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/our-impact/fire-statistics/featured-items/top20_destruction.pdf?hash=5B8B3A1A35CBB52CB0ED7A010F0B52E0&rev=ee6ea855632a4b56a46adea1d3c8022f |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Fire progression== right|thumb|San Diego skyline against the smoke at sunrise, on October 23, 2007. right|thumb|Image of the smoke-filled sky in San Diego, on the morning of October 22, 2007.
The Witch Creek Fire started in Witch Creek Canyon near Santa Ysabel, at 12:35 p.m. PDT on Sunday, October 21, 2007, after powerful Santa Ana winds blew down a power line, releasing sparks into the wind.<ref name="Witch Fire">{{cite web|title=Witch Fire Incident Information|url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=225|website=CAL FIRE|date=November 6, 2007|access-date=September 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115032722/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=225|archive-date=January 15, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Witch Fire quickly spread to San Diego Country Estates, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, and Escondido. From there, the fire jumped over Interstate 15 and continued west, causing significant damage in Lake Hodges, Del Dios, and Rancho Santa Fe.<ref name="witch roars" />
Strong Santa Ana winds pushed the fires west towards the coast.<ref name="witch roars">{{cite news |first1=Angelica|last1=Martinez|first2=Greg|last2=Gros|date=October 22, 2007 |title=Witch fire roars west across Rancho Bernardo and Poway |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071022-0934-bn22fire3new.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024033506/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071022-0934-bn22fire3new.html |archive-date=Oct 24, 2007}}</ref> San Diego County Sheriff William B. Kolendar stated that the Witch Creek Fire could be "well in excess of the Cedar Fire of 2003".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martinez|first1=Angelica|first2=Tony|last2=Manolatos |date=October 22, 2007 |title=Wildfires seen as eclipsing the Cedar fire of 2003 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071022-0922-bn22fire3.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903195229/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071022-0922-bn22fire3.html |archive-date=Sep 3, 2009}}</ref> While many coastal communities were evacuated as the fire moved west, the shifting winds prevented it from directly threatening those areas. By the evening of October 21, the Witch Creek Fire had expanded to {{convert|2,000|acre|km2|0}}.<ref name="2007 fire siege">{{cite web |date=8 January 2009 |title=California Fire Siege 2007: An Overview |url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/siege/2007/Overview_CompleteFinal.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119041829/http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/siege/2007/Overview_CompleteFinal.pdf |archive-date=19 November 2018 |access-date=21 August 2015}}</ref>
=== Witch and Guejito fires merge === On Monday, October 22, the Santa Ana winds peaked, reaching sustained wind speeds of {{convert|90|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, with winds gusting up to {{convert|112|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. The extremely powerful Santa Ana winds fanned the wildfires in Southern California, causing many of the wildfires to rapidly expand westward.<ref name="2007 fire siege" /> At 1:30 a.m. on October 22, the Guejito Fire ignited southeast of the San Diego Wild Animal Park, within the San Pasqual River drainage. By early morning, the Guejito Fire had expanded to Interstate 15, forcing the closure of the freeway in both directions, which disrupted some evacuations from areas affected by the Witch Creek Fire.<ref name="2007 fire siege" /><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|first=Elizabeth Marie|last=Himchak|date=November 12, 2012|access-date=November 13, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113113447/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/pomerado-news/sdpn-witch-creek-fire-five-years-later-recovery-2012oct19-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In less than an hour, the Witch Creek Fire caught up with the Guejito Fire to the west, and the two fires combined into a single, massive wildfire before dawn. With powerful Santa Ana winds gusting over {{convert|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, the Witch Creek Fire then jumped over Interstate 15, rapidly burning into Rancho Bernardo.<ref name="2007 fire siege" /><ref name="5 years later" /> Residents located between the Del Dios Highway and State Route 56 along with the unincorporated area of Escondido were ordered to evacuate.<ref name="witch roars" /><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|first=Walker F.|last=Ekard|publisher=County of San Diego|date=February 2008|access-date=13 November 2017|archive-date=31 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131105351/http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/oes/docs/2007_SanDiego_Fire_AAR_Main_Document_FINAL.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> A firefighter stated that the conditions they faced were "twice as bad" as the Cedar Fire in 2003, with firefighters separating houses into those that they could save and those that they couldn't.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/2007/oct/22/huge-wildfires-merge-continue-pushing-west/|title=Huge Wildfires Merge, Continue Pushing West|publisher=KPBS|date=October 22, 2007|access-date=September 11, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127012127/https://www.kpbs.org/news/2007/oct/22/huge-wildfires-merge-continue-pushing-west/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Witch Creek Fire continued to race westward, and by that night, mandatory evacuation orders had been expanded westward to Escondido and Del Mar, all the way up to the coast.<ref name="2007 San Diego firestorms AAR" /> A dispatch from the city of Del Mar's web site stated that all Del Mar residents had to evacuate<ref>{{cite news |date=October 22, 2007 |title=Voluntary evacuation in place for all of Del Mar |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/voluntary-evacuation-in-place-for-all.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024163254/http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/voluntary-evacuation-in-place-for-all.html |archive-date=Oct 24, 2007}}</ref> Evacuations were also ordered for Scripps Ranch, 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 also evacuated due to the Witch Fire.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 22, 2007 |title=Mesa Grande Indian reservation was evacuated |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/mesa-grande-indian-reservation-was.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024162512/http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/mesa-grande-indian-reservation-was.html |archive-date=Oct 24, 2007}}</ref> Residents of the Barona Indian Reservation were advised to leave, though the evacuation was not mandatory. The casino on the reservation was closed. By the end of October 22, the Witch Creek Fire had exploded to {{convert|145,000|acre|km2|0}} and was still rapidly expanding.<ref name="2007 fire siege" />
left|thumb|260px|Burn area map of the Witch Creek Fire on October 30, after it had merged with the Poomacha Fire.
=== The Witch Fire reaches the Poomacha Fire === At 3:13 a.m. on October 23, the Poomacha Fire was ignited in the La Jolla Indian Reservation in northeastern San Diego County. On the same day, the Poomacha Fire quickly exploded to {{convert|20,000|acre|km2|0}}, with most of that growth occurring within one and a half hours.<ref name="2007 fire siege" /><ref name="Poomacha Fire">{{cite web|title=Poomacha Fire Incident Information|url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=232|website=CAL FIRE|date=November 9, 2007|access-date=September 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211203310/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=232|archive-date=December 11, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> During that afternoon, evacuations of Del Mar, Chula Vista, Poway, Del Mar Heights, and Scripps Ranch were lifted for many residents.<ref name="nbcsandiego.com">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 24, 2007 |title=Thousands Of Evacuees Return |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/national-international/news_and_notes__part_2/1836603/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025034503/http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/14407302/detail.html |archive-date=Oct 25, 2007 |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=NBC 7 San Diego |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=Oct 21, 2007 |title=Dying Winds Aid California Firefighters |url=https://www.10news.com/weather/14387615/detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024195511/https://www.10news.com/weather/14387615/detail.html |archive-date=Oct 24, 2007 |access-date=Aug 15, 2023 |website=10News}}</ref> That night, 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 |date=October 23, 2007 |title=Mandatory evacuations in Julian |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/mandatory-evacuations-in-julian.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026014905/http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/mandatory-evacuations-in-julian.html |archive-date=Oct 26, 2007}}</ref>
On Wednesday, October 24, the Santa Ana winds began to subside, and the prevailing winds shifted directions, with the onshore flow blowing in from the west; this caused the Witch Creek Fire to reverse directions and begin burning eastward, ending the threat to the coastal communities. This also allowed the fire to burn previously unburned fuel (which was passed over during the initial rapid spread of the fire), threatening communities further east that had so far avoided the worst of the Witch Creek Fire.<ref name="2007 fire siege" /><ref name="10 years ago">{{cite web|url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/2017/oct/16/2007-firestorms-ravaged-san-diego-county/|title=10 Years Ago: Firestorms Ravaged San Diego County|first=Erik|last=Anderson|publisher=KPBS|date=October 16, 2017|access-date=September 30, 2018|archive-date=May 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516173402/http://www.kpbs.org/news/2017/oct/16/2007-firestorms-ravaged-san-diego-county/|url-status=live}}</ref> On the same day, some of the evacuation orders in place for Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, 4S Ranch, and other areas west of Rancho Bernardo were lifted, after the western part of the Witch Creek Fire was contained. 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|date=October 25, 2007|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112185433/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/pomerado-news/sdpn-witch-creek-blaze-hits-rb-hardest-2007oct25-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
The California Highway Patrol closed Interstate 5, after the Ammo Fire burned across the freeway; the Ammo Fire also forced the closures of the Amtrak California ''Surfliner'' service between Oceanside and San Clemente. These routes had previously been used to evacuate residents from the Witch Creek Fire areas.<ref name="Horno1">{{cite news |date=October 24, 2007 |title=Camp Pendleton fire spread to 6,000 Acres |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/camp-pendleton-fire-spread-to-6000.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025101425/http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/camp-pendleton-fire-spread-to-6000.html |archive-date=Oct 25, 2007}}</ref> Traffic from Interstate 5 was diverted to Interstate 15, which had reopened since the portion of the Witch Creek Fire around Interstate 15 had been extinguished.<ref name="Horno2">{{cite news |date=October 24, 2007 |title=Traffic diverting to north I-15 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/traffic-diverting-to-north-i-15.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025095806/http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/traffic-diverting-to-north-i-15.html |archive-date=Oct 25, 2007}}</ref> That day, 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|publisher=10News|date=October 24, 2007|access-date=September 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119005137/http://www.10news.com/news/witch-fire-threatens-to-merge-with-poomacha-fire|archive-date=November 19, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> By this time, the Poomacha Fire had grown to {{convert|35000|acre|km2|0}}, and also began burning towards Palomar Mountain, to the north. Despite the fact that the Poomacha Fire was still much smaller than the Witch Creek Fire, firefighters were unable to establish a fire perimeter around the younger fire, due to the fact that other larger fires had rendered available firefighters and equipment scarce for the Poomacha Fire.<ref name="2007 fire siege" /><ref name="Witch Fire threatens to merge" /> On October 25, the Witch Fire and the Poomacha Fire merged into one complex fire, with the two wildfires joining to the south of Palomar Mountain.<ref name="2007 fire siege" />
=== Witch Fire contained === By October 26, the Santa Ana winds had finally subsided and the onshore flow had fully returned, slowing down the spread of the remaining wildfires and aiding firefighters in their efforts to contain them.<ref name="2007 fire siege" /> On the same day, the Witch Fire merged with the contained McCoy Fire,<ref name="Santiago Fire report">{{cite web |last=Prather |first=Chip |date=March 28, 2008 |title=After Action Report Santiago Fire: October 21 - November 9, 2007 |url=https://www.ocfa.org/Uploads/Transparency/OCFA-AAR-Santiago%20Fire.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102105947/https://www.ocfa.org/Uploads/Transparency/OCFA-AAR-Santiago%20Fire.pdf |archive-date=November 2, 2020 |access-date=September 12, 2020 |publisher=Orange County Fire Authority}}</ref> which had previously burned 400 acres in the Pine Hills area, in eastern San Diego County.<ref name="10news">{{cite news |date=October 23, 2007 |title=Fire Crews Surround McCoy Fire |publisher=10News |url=http://www.10news.com/news/fire-crews-surround-mccoy-fire |access-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115041228/https://www.10news.com/news/fire-crews-surround-mccoy-fire |archive-date=Nov 15, 2013}}</ref>
On November 6, the main portion of the Witch Creek Fire was 100% contained, although the Poomacha Fire continued to burn near Palomar Mountain for another week.<ref name="Witch Fire" /> On November 13, the Poomacha Fire was fully contained, bringing the all the fires completely under control.<ref name="2007 fire siege" /> {{Clear}}
==Impacts== By mid-morning on October 22, thousands of evacuees were taking shelter in Qualcomm Stadium and other locations throughout San Diego.<ref name="latimes_evac">{{cite news |first1=H.G.|last1=Reza|first2=Jill|last2=Leovy|first3= Alex|last3=Pham |date=October 24, 2007 |title=Scale of the fires' disruption on display at San Diego stadium |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-evacuate24oct24,0,627804.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-california |access-date=2007-10-24 |archive-date=2013-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404081314/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-evacuate24oct24,0,627804.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-california |url-status=live }}</ref> That afternoon , the Marines evacuated some planes from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to other military bases in California and Arizona.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 22, 2007 |title=Miramar evacuating some aircraft |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/miramar-evacuating-some-aircraft.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024162544/http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/miramar-evacuating-some-aircraft.html |archive-date=Oct 24, 2007}}</ref> The Navy moved all non-essential personnel from Naval Base San Diego barracks onto nearby vessels to accommodate refugees.<ref name="cnn military">{{cite news |date=October 23, 2007 |title=Military helps fight fires while personnel evacuated |publisher=CNN.com |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/23/fire.military/index.html |access-date=2007-10-23 |archive-date=2020-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128222219/http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/23/fire.military/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The San Diego Wild Animal Park moved some animals to the on-site animal hospital for their protection.<ref name="witch roars" /> Both legal and illegal alien workers were endangered by the crisis, sometimes staying at work in the fields within mandatory evacuation zones. Many had lived in the canyons nearby and distrusted officials.<ref>{{cite news |first=Amy|last=Isackson |date=October 25, 2007 |title=Fires Highlight Safety Needs of Migrant Workers |work=npr.org |publisher=National Public Radio |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15634399 |access-date=2007-10-28 |archive-date=2007-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028013551/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15634399 |url-status=live }}</ref> When fleeing the fires, some were arrested, while others were turned away from shelters due to lack of adequate identification.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 27, 2007 |title=Immigrants Step Out of the Smoke |work=kcbs.com |publisher=KCBS All News Radio 740 AM |url=http://www.kcbs.com/Immigrants-Step-Out-of-the-Smoke/1141409 |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029033427/http://www.kcbs.com/Immigrants-Step-Out-of-the-Smoke/1141409 |archive-date=2007-10-29}}</ref>
The Witch Creek Fire forced the evacuation of at least 500,000 people from over 346,000 homes in San Diego County.<ref name="witch roars" /><ref name="widespread evacuations">"[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15561235 California Wildfires Trigger Widespread Evacuations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526114120/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15561235 |date=2018-05-26 }}". NPR (2007-10-24). Retrieved on 2007-10-24.</ref> Evacuation sites in San Diego County included Qualcomm Stadium, Escondido High School, Mission Hills High School, Poway High School, Mira Mesa Senior High School, and the Del Mar Fairgrounds.<ref name="witch roars" /><ref name="latimes_evac" /> Many major roads were also closed as a result of the fires and smoke. On October 22, the California Highway Patrol closed Interstate 15 in both directions between State Routes 78 and 56.<ref name="witch roars" /> On October 24, the Ammo (Horno) Fire forced the closure of Interstate 5, as well as the Amtrak California ''Surfliner'' service between Oceanside and San Clemente.<ref name="Horno1" /> Traffic from Interstate 5 was being diverted to Interstate 15, which had reopened.<ref name="Horno2" />
=== Air quality and effects on health === The concentration of 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 |last=Vigil|first= Jennifer |date=October 24, 2007 |title=Aguirre wants San Diego evacuated in wake of wildfires |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071024/news_1n24aguirre.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026024544/http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071024/news_1n24aguirre.html |archive-date=October 26, 2007}}</ref> {{Panorama | image = Image:Wildfires in Eastern San Diego East County 2007.jpg | height = 200 | caption = Smoke fills the horizon in East San Diego County, October 22, 2007. }}
=== Response === The Department of Defense contributed twelve engines for firefighting efforts. The California National Guard called more than 2,400 troops,<ref>{{cite web |first=Jon|last= Seipmann |date=2007-10-25 |title=Press Release 10-17 |url=http://www.calguard.ca.gov/publicaffairs/Pages/PressReleases/October%2007/PressRelease10-17.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509170408/http://www.calguard.ca.gov/publicaffairs/Pages/PressReleases/October%2007/PressRelease10-17.aspx |archive-date=2009-05-09 |access-date=2009-05-12 |work=California National Guard |publisher=State of California}}</ref> with 17,000 soldiers on standby.<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 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 |date=October 22, 2007 |title=Six Navy copter crews helping fight wildfires |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/military/20071022-1752-bn22helos.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012135800/http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/military/20071022-1752-bn22helos.html |archive-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> One of the larger airtankers, the 7,000-gallon Martin Mars, was sent through a private contract from its home in Port Alberni, British Columbia, on October 25, landing on Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, California. 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 |date=October 23, 2007 |title=Privately owned B.C. water bomber flying to fight California fires |work=cbc.ca |publisher=CBC News |url=http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2007/10/24/privately-owned-bc-water-bomber-to-help-fight-california-fires |url-status=dead |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714203133/http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2007/10/24/privately-owned-bc-water-bomber-to-help-fight-california-fires |archive-date=2014-07-14}}</ref>
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in seven California counties where fires burned. President George W. Bush concurred<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 |access-date=2007-10-24 |archive-date=2011-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020145836/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071023.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and visited the region on Thursday, October 25, 2007.<ref name="MSNBC1">{{cite news |date=October 23, 2007 |title=Bush promises aid for victims of California fires |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21435512 |access-date=2007-10-23 |archive-date=2014-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227094148/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21435512/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 23, 2007 |title=Did the state delay Marine copters? |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/did-state-delay-marine-copters.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026011251/http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/did-state-delay-marine-copters.html |archive-date=Oct 26, 2007}}</ref>
==Aftermath== A total of 197,000 acres were burned by the Witch Fire. In addition, the fire killed two people, injured 40 firefighters, and destroyed 1,125 homes.<ref name="Witch Fire" /> The Witch Fire is estimated to have at least $1.142 billion (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|1.142|2007|r=3}} billion in {{Inflation/year|US}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}) in insured damages alone.<ref name="cost">{{cite web|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/graphic-science-how-much-do-fires-cost-property-damage/|title=How Much Do Wildfires Cost in Terms of Property Damage?|first=Mark|last=Fischetti|website=Scientific American|date=27 May 2011|access-date=30 July 2014|archive-date=27 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627003807/http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/graphic-science-how-much-do-fires-cost-property-damage/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Roberts>{{cite journal|last1=Roberts|first1=Jacob|title=The Best of Intentions|journal=Distillations|publisher=Chemical Heritage Foundation|date=2015|volume=1|issue=2|pages=38–39|url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/the-best-of-intentions|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-date=23 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823142511/https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/the-best-of-intentions/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2022|post=,}} the Witch Fire is the eighteenth-largest wildfire in modern California history,<ref name="20large">{{cite web |date=September 11, 2020 |title=Top 20 Largest California Wildfires |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/11416/top20_acres.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826223244/https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/11416/top20_acres.pdf |archive-date=August 26, 2020 |access-date=September 12, 2020 |website=CAL FIRE}}</ref> as well as the seventh-most destructive wildfire on record in California.<ref name="top 20 most destructive">{{cite web |date=September 10, 2020 |title=Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/11417/top20_destruction.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830071113/https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/11417/top20_destruction.pdf |archive-date=August 30, 2020 |access-date=September 10, 2020 |publisher=CAL FIRE}}</ref> right|thumb|The remains of a home destroyed by the Witch Creek Fire
The California Public Utilities Commission ruled that in the Witch and Guejito fires, along with the Rice Fire, San Diego Gas & Electric had not trimmed back trees as state law requires. The power line that caused the Witch fires shorted three times in three hours, but the utility did not cut power to it for six hours.<ref name="sfc">{{cite news |last=Baker |first=David R. |date=December 1, 2017 |title=Customers not liable for utility's legal costs |page=C1 |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/san-francisco-chronicle/20171201/281990377846250 |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=April 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420132127/https://www.pressreader.com/usa/san-francisco-chronicle/20171201/281990377846250 |archive-date=April 20, 2019}}</ref> In August 2017, administrative law judges S. Pat Tsen and Sasha Goldberg ruled that the utility did not reasonably manage its facilities and that the wildfires were not outside of its control. Therefore, they ruled that the utility could not pass its uninsured costs along to its ratepayers. The PUC agreed in early December in a 5–0 vote.<ref name="sfc" /><ref name="sjmn">{{cite news |first=Paul|last=Rogers |date=December 1, 2017 |title=PUC: Utility can't pass fire costs to customers: Setting stage for PG&E claims, San Diego power company, stockholders liable for $379M |page=A1 |work=The Mercury News |publisher=Bay Area News Group}}</ref> Legal claims after the fires totaled $5.6 billion (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|5.6|2007|r=1}} billion in {{Inflation/year|US}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}), $2.4 billion (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|2.4|2007|r=1}} billion{{Inflation/fn|US}}) after the utility settled 2,500 lawsuits for damages.<ref name="utility blocked">{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/11/30/puc-denies-utility-request-to-charge-ratepayers-for-wildfire-costs/|title=Wildfires: Utility blocked from charging customers for wildfire costs|first=Paul|last=Rogers|publisher=The Mercury News|date=November 30, 2017|access-date=April 20, 2019|archive-date=April 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420132123/https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/11/30/puc-denies-utility-request-to-charge-ratepayers-for-wildfire-costs/|url-status=live}}</ref> The $379 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|379|2007}} million{{Inflation/fn|US}}) it had sought to pass along to customers represented uninsured costs.<ref name="sfc" />
==See also== {{Portal|California}} *October 2007 California wildfires **Harris Fire *Cedar Fire (2003) *2005 Labor Day brush fire *May 2014 San Diego County wildfires *2016 California wildfires *Tubbs Fire *December 2017 Southern California wildfires **Thomas Fire **Lilac Fire *List of California wildfires ==Notes== {{notelist}} ==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commonscat|Witch Fire}} *[https://interwork.sdsu.edu/fire/resources/documents/WitchFire-BAER.pdf Interagency State BAER Report: The Witch Fire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112185515/https://interwork.sdsu.edu/fire/resources/documents/WitchFire-BAER.pdf |date=November 12, 2017 }} *[http://www.10news.com/news/largest-fires-in-san-diego-county-history Largest fires in San Diego County history] from 10News *[https://www.cccarto.com/calwildfire/ Southern California's Worst Brush Fires]
{{California wildfires by size}} {{2007 California wildfires}}
Category:2007 California wildfires Category:Wildfires in San Diego County, California Category:East County, San Diego Category:North County (San Diego area) Category:Escondido, California Category:Poway, California Category:Ramona, San Diego County, California Category:Rancho Santa Fe, California