Southern California is still ablaze today as nearly 22 fires continue to tear through northeastern counties in San Diego and northwest Los Angeles on Oct. 24.
In addition to devouring more than 1,300 homes between Los Angeles and the Mexican border, the wildfires continues to threaten farms and stables.
San Diego County officials reported that more than 500,000 citizens have been evacuated and another 12,000 have been asked to voluntarily evacuate. Many high school campuses and stadiums out of harm’s way are being used as shelters.
This is the biggest evacuation in California’s history. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the magnitude of this crisis equals that of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Qualcomm Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers football team, has provided accommodation for up to 10,000 displaced residents.
The Del Mar fairgrounds horse park and racetrack took in an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people and about 2,500 horses and other animals by Tuesday, Oct. 23, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. Volunteers with equine experience are encouraged to call (858) 792-5245.
Terrel Paine, MFH, and his wife Linda, of Santa Fe Hunt (Calif.), have opened their doors to people and horses in the area as well, although they have been without power for 36 hours. Across the street from their Kingsway Farm, Galway Downs is housing horses as well.
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Robert Kellerhouse, organizer of the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event scheduled for Nov. 1-4, said the event will run as scheduled. “We don’t want to tempt Mother Nature or the fire gods, but we’ve been incredibly lucky. We haven’t even been inundated by smoke here at the facility,” said Kellerhouse.
Currently, 120 evacuated horses are standing at the show grounds along with their owners or trainers. “If you can get here—and you could do that now, except from the south—you and your horse will be fine,” promised Kellerhouse.
In Cardiff, it has been reported that all of the horses at Guenter Seidel’s training center have been evacuated. Fire officials told the San Diego Union Tribune earlier this week that the fire could spread all the way to the coastline if the Santa Ana wind conditions don’t subside.
Shannon Peters checked in with the website Dressage Daily and said all 57 of their horses have been evacuated to the racetrack in Del Mar.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger brought hopeful news to the evacuees at Qualcomm Stadium during his second visit. He said that more firefighting equipment was on the way: two air tankers, two DC-7 airplanes and 10 helicopters, among them.
White House officials reported that 1,200 federal firefighters; more than 100 engines; two dozen aircraft and 1,600 National Guard personnel are on their way to aid in the fire fight.