It’s deja vu all over again. We are well out of the fire’s path (for now), yet our spa has the layer of ash we last saw during the 2003 Cedar fire. None of us slept last night; it’s that anxiety that comes with the familiar sights and smells. I lay awake listening to the howling wind and wondering.
Lisa Yates, one of our buyer’s agents, lost her home in the Cedar fire. She called me as she was leaving her open house yesterday, and I could sense the tension in her voice. Years ago, in my crazy younger days, I had an unfortunate mishap involving a Tom Collins. Today, merely the glimpse of a gin bottle sends me reeling, and I feel sick to my bones. This is how she and so many others must be feeling this morning.
San Diego Unified School District, in their infinite wisdom, announced that all schools would be open today. Forget that it is raining white, forget that breathing is difficult at best, or that the entire I-15 corridor to our immediate north and Ramona to the east has been evacuated. My daughters dutifully headed off to school (”We have tests!”), only to find what I already knew. Most of the faculty and staff were absentee. Presumably, if their homes weren’t in danger, then their freeway commute routes were closed. Teachers told the few in attendance, “You didn’t hear it from me, but if you can get a ride home, go now.” It’s one hour later, and we just got the word that Mira Mesa and Scripps Ranch Schools have been closed. The punch line is that they are now bringing the Red Cross in because all of the students who were bused have no way home. Geez.
Moments ago, I received an email from the Scripps Ranch Civic Association saying that the southern end of the Witch Fire is now following the path of the previous Cedar Fire and that, depending on winds, could reach Scripps this morning. I think this is alarmist, but then we thought the first signs of flames last time wouldn’t concern us.
Steve is threatening to mobilize for an evacuation, but that’s premature. My oldest daughter has asked to get together with her friends to lend support, some of whom were directly affected last time around and are reliving a nightmare. One of my favorite, dearest past clients spent the night with friends and still wonders about the fate of his home. He was among the first evacuees in Ramona last night, and I’m afraid it doesn’t look good. My younger daughter received an email from one of her friends in neighboring Rancho Bernardo this morning saying that a home on her street was burning, and her family had to go.
Our office will be closed today. We will be glued to the television and praying for our friends and neighbors.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kris Berg is Co-Owner and Designated Broker of San Diego Castles Realty. If not-so static web sites are your thing, go here at once where you will find loads of real estate information including homes for sale, market trends, floor plans and more. Kris's hobbies include fencing and spot welding. She likes kittens. 
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Thoughts and prayers with you guys, Kris.
Thanks, Jeremy. We are fine. A lot of folks aren’t.
I pray you good fortune.
Kris and Steve ~
Was wondering about you guys this morning.
Life is precious; take care of yourselves.
You are in my thoughts and prayers guys!
Thanks, Greg. We are just watching the skies to the east right now. I was just on the phone with a friend. Carmel Mountain Ranch, for those in SD, is starting to get the reverse 911 calls now. Freaky.
My family’s thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.
Our home in San Diego is safe, but as luck would have it, our cabin in Lake Arrowhead is in the path of that fire. The security alarm just went off – The monitoring company said it might be a power outage, but they can’t tell for sure, since they just got the notice to evacuate.
Somebody doesn’t like Southern California this morning.
Kris and Steve, our prayers are with you and your friends and family. Howard
Dang it – They are evacuating us now. We have officially been evacuated twice in one day. Our Arrowhead cabin got the mandatory call this morning. Aargh.
Please keep us posted when and if you can. I know you are worried about your properties, but stay far enough away to be safe!
You are in our constant thoughts.
To Everyone:
I spoke with Kris last night and she was laughing at the police telling them to evacuate when the fires were nowhere near.
She was joking that if they had to evacuate, she didn’t have enough animal crates for the cat, dog, and Steve
I just noticed on the SD NBC website this morning that parts of Scripps Ranch are being evacuated now.
Also saw that 128 homes burned in Lake Arrowhead area.
Unsure of present status.
Phil – thanks for the update and keep us posted!
Kris and Steve – I hope you and your family are safe. Most of our agents have been evacuated, too, but let us know if there is something we can do to help.
We are safe (and so is our home)! The evacuation order for Scripps Ranch was lifted about 2 hours ago. We were never actually threatened (which is why we defied the order). After the Cedar Fire of 4 years ago I think the local officials ordered the evacuation out of an abundance of caution (smart). But San Diego is not out of the woods yet. Many severe fires are still burning all around us and all over the County. Quite unprecedented and impossible to fully describe. Our hearts go out to those who have lost their homes, the many still displaced families and the ones that still need to evacuate.
Thanks for all of your kind words.
Be safe Kris and Steve. We are all concerned about you.
You’re in our thoughts and prayers. Stay safe!