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FIRESTORM 
Surfers and other watermen sometimes talk about the perfect storm, a storm where all the individual conditions and elements that can create storms come together perfectly to create a massive super storm. Perfect storms do not happen regularly, in fact sometimes there may not be one for years if not decades. But when they do happen anything could happen including complete and utter disaster.
Residence in San Diego City and County recently experienced the perfect firestorm when extremely high temperatures, dry air conditions, strong easterly prevailing winds and fire came together thus igniting a massive firestorm. At one point in the firestorm there was a very real possibility flames would consume everything from mountain to coast. Affected beach communities threatened by fire were Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Carlsbad.???
The day of the firestorm the waves were just about as perfect as they ever get. Taking advantage of the strong offshore winds produced by the Santa Ana conditions and the superb waves my brother Milton and I were surfing the beach break waves in Del Mar. Besides the strong offshore winds there were no indications this day was any different than any other. Just as with any Santa Ana condition the air was extremely warm and dry. So dry in fact that if a surfer fell off his surfboard and got completely wet he would be almost completely dry within a few minutes later.
And then came the first smell of smoke. Barely detectable but definitely present the air smelled like wisps of someone's B.B.Q. or perhaps a fire in the fireplace. It was not long after that from where we were sitting in the lineup we could see smoke beginning to rise up from the inland hills. With the steady cloud of smoke growing larger and coming closer by the minute we could tell the fire was large. As the smell of smoke grew stronger so did the smoke and ashes coming from the sky.
The moments earlier clear and bright day was quickly becoming dark and gray. Likewise the bright yellow sun was rapidly turning a shade of ominous blood red. San Diegans have seen fires before but not like this. Initial reports were not good, "To much fire not enough fire fighters," related firefighters from the front lines. Due to high winds and extreme thick clouds of smoke and ash air support was unable to get off the ground. Adding to the intensity of the situation was the size and vast distance of areas going up in flames. It was not just one large fire to fight it was several large fires growing stronger by the moment.
City and state officials began responding to the emergency. Thanks to quick acting government officials, brave local and nonlocal firefighters, law enforcement organizations, radio stations and even private citizens all working together disaster of catastrophic proportions was averted. Almost immediately reverse 911 calls were placed warning those most in jeopardy to evacuate to safety. Evacuation shelters were set up with food, water and basic supplies not just for humans but their pets and other animals as well.
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, county supervisor Ron Roberts, and county sheriff Bill Kolendar displayed real leadership in time of crises when we needed them the most. Over five hundred thousand people and livestock were evacuated in an orderly and timely fashion. Governor Schwartzenegger pledged to do everything he could to help the situation and he did by calling in additional support including the national guard and personally visiting San Diego evacuation shelters to make sure people were getting the assistance they needed. Radio talk show host Rodger Hedgecock kept people informed on area hot spots via his broadcasts on the radio and also on the web. Hedgecock was the only source on the Internet for slow speed Internet users to attain accurate up to the minute information about the fire.
And then there were the private citizens who came through for their fellow San Diegans in time of need. It's said at Qualcom stadium there were as many volunteers helping out, as there were evacuees. There were countless instances were neighbors were helping neighbors. At the height of the fire my brother Eugene Willis who owns Central Flood Management as well as Immediate Response emergency services used his own horse trailers and time to rescue neighbor's horses though in real danger himself. Others also rose to the challenge offering places to stay, food and shelter.
Unfortunately houses did burn and lives and property were affected, but the damage and disaster could have been much worse. We were in a tough and unpredictable fight but thanks to Government officials, firefighters as well as private citizens we won. Condolences go out to those affected that suffered losses and real praise goes out for those who helped keep losses to a minimum. San Diego remains America's finest city. Aloha.
Check out MORE commentary in the North County Times.
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