(Bumped - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
Two more bodies were found in a home in Poway, bringing the current official tally to three, but many more undocumented immigrants are feared dead in the canyons near the border. Over 695 square miles have burned, or a bit more than half the size of Rhode Island. About 1500 residences have been destroyed in San Diego County alone. And, amazingly, more people have been evacuated from these fires than from the Katrina disaster. This is truly one of our country's most major disasters. All that being said, the County of San Diego has already received its first request for a building permit to replace a destroyed home. And the population at Qualcomm Stadium is dwindling, now down to about 12,000. However, the actual work of controlling the fire will take some time yet. Over 5,000 firefighters are now fighting the blazes, and there is plenty of work for them. The fire at Lake Arrowhead is expected to be controlled soon, and firefighters feel they are making good progress with the Santa Anas dying down. Here is some information on some outstanding fires:  Witch Creek...<200,000 acres, 20 percent contained Harris........75,000 acres, 10 percent contained Poomacha......35,000 acres, 10 percent contained Rice Canyon... 9,500 acres, 20 percent contained Horno ... 17,000 acres, 40 percent contained On the frustrating front, some minor looting has been observed across the region. Two men were arrested trying to enter Mexico with stolen loot in one incident, and in another two 18-year-olds were arrested for looting in Ramona. Arson is beginning to look like a possibility in some of the fires, investigators are now looking into the question. Officials in San Bernadino County report that they have shot and killed a suspected arsonist. The Los Angeles County Public Health office has updated their 211 page to reflect resources to assist Southland Fires 2007. Here's the page from San Diego County San Diego County Fire information. Speaker Fabian Nunez and the Assembly Dem Caucus have a new Emergency Services Website. Here's one Google Map with Fire information, and another, KPBS Google Map of San Diego fires. And don't forget the U-T's fireblog. Over the flip you'll find a lot more information phone numbers. Blood donations are greatly needed. The San Diego Blood Bank will hold blood drives Tuesday at Qualcomm Stadium, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Big O Tires at 1106 Garnet Ave. Pacific Beach, (92109) from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.. Also, check out the Red Cross schedule. If you would like to donate money, our recommendation is the San Diego Foundation's After the Fire Fund. You can donate online here. I should also note this great diary with a list of resources and ways to volunteer and help out. UPDATE: (1:20PM by Brian) The major corridors of San Diego are now open, but it was delayed by a press conference by Bush. The Decider apparently thought that a photo-op with him on top of some rubble was more important than letting San Diegans back to their homes. In other news, the ATF has decided that the 22,000 acre Santiago Fire was arson. Three origin points are being treated as crime scenes. UPDATE (3PM by Brian): The Harris fire is shifting back towards Potrero, so the city is back off limits. For more on Potrero, see this diary from Miriam Raftery. The City of Ramona is still off limits, but apparently that angered some residents who broke through a CHP roadblock, National Guard troops were brought in to cool off heated tempers. There are new evac orders for Lawson Valley, Carveacre, but the evac order was lifted for Rancho Sante Fe.
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