Monday, October 22,2007 -- All 36,000 residents of Ramona have been ordered to evacuate because of a wind-driven brush fire.
So far it has burned at least 5,000 acres.
Evacuees ae being asked to go to Mira Mesa High School, 10510 Reagan Road or Escondido High School, 1535 N. Broadway, according to the American Red Cross.
The shelter at Poway High School has been closed.
Highway 78 in the area of the fire was closed, as was Old Julian Highway between Ramona and Santa Ysabel.
Highway 79, north of the reservation, was also closed and traffic was
being re-routed to Highway 76.
The Witch fire is one of two in San Diego County and seven in Southern California, prompting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency for San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
Another wind-fueled brush fire in rural southern San Diego County that has grown to 14,000 acres killed one person today and injured 17 others, including four firefighters hospitalized in serious condition.