I’m ditching work and told my folks to do what they think is right, what with a mandatory evacuation order in effect one mile to my north. I do believe that the Mayor is being exceptionally conservative, but the winds have picked up over the night and what was two fires has become several in the east county, none of which appear to be in the least contained.

The picture below is static and taken at 0810 1030, but it is linked to a dynamic Google map showing the location of major fires, road and highway closures, evacuation centers, etc. Now includes the evacuation area north of HWY 56, east of I-5, west of I-15, and south of the Del Dios Highway.

Neighbors are packing up.

This sorta sux.

Update: Ashes and dust everywhere, the sky is pewter colored and the wind is howling. The girls ask if we’re evacuating – I tell them the mandatory evacuation area is across the 56. They look out the back window and point to the highway. Friends call in by cell phone to say they are evacuating.

The cats are nervous, but the dog is still goofy. Local news servers are responding very slowly.

Here’s what it looks like from space:

Update 2: Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, all. We’re holding in place, watching the news, staying close to each other. It’s funny how families can be sometimes. Weeks go by sometimes between hearing from SNO, and the Biscuit and the Kat seem to want to find a way to get out from under on the weekends. But himself called first thing this morning to make sure we were OK, and offer us a place to crash. And the girls have been housebound all day, we didn’t even have to ask them to keep close.

Had the news on more or less continuously until it got too depressing. Homes are burning in Rancho Bernardo, which is no very great distance to the northeast – eight, maybe ten miles. The fire marshal grimly predicts that some of these fires will make it to the coast. That’s not good news. On the other hand, the current fires and projected paths don’t quite cross our location. But they don’t miss by much.

Better get back to my homework.

Update 3: Well, your interactive Google maps are all well and fine, but sometimes the Mark I Mod 0 Eyeball is preferred. Took the moto up the hill behind our house – where the rich people live! – and confirmed that while the winds are fierce from the east, the fires are well to our north. So long as no new thing arises we should be in good shape. We’re all packed and ready to go, just in case, and having reconnoitered on the bike it’s clear that we’ll have to use back streets and tricks to work our way towards the 5 – the intersecting highway which runs by our house is a parking lot.

It’s funny what you decide to keep and what you’d leave behind. Toiletries are a good notion, as well as a change of clothes. Bedrolls are not a bad idea, and we’re bringing our own water and TP. Because you just don’t know. Desktop computers stay behind, but laptops and removable hard drives are on the list. Wedding photo albums and family pictures? Oh very yes.

The homeowner’s association has hired workers to clear brush in the creek behind our house. The gate arm has been thoughtfully removed to let fire and rescue get in unhindered. Some of the neighbors hopefully water their lawns. Won’t do a damned bit of good if it comes to it, but I suppose it’s marginally more useful than blogging.

Update 4: Still hanging tough. You’ll see the reason for our insouciance on the map below – the martini glass represents Chez Lex. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky thank good. Kevin’s right – good pictures here.

View Larger Map

Update 5: Oh, bother. The city has called an evacuation of Scripps Ranch, which is just southeast of us. With an evac area north and now one southeast, I’m starting to feel bracketed. Bummer.

Good news is that I have now found the gas shut-off.