Potrero is burning, town evacuated (Blackwater proposed site)

[Liberty Belle]

Source: eyewitness accounts

A devastating wildfire is burning in Potrero, California, the town where Blackwater wants to open up a private military training base. A recall election against town planners who approved Blackwater is slated for December 11, with ballots for the vote-by-mail election arriving in early November.

I'm reporting for a weekly newspaper here and drove up there early this afternoon. I got as far as Barrett Junction, just over the ridge from Potrero, when fire exploded over the mountaintop and they ordered us to evacuate.


Things sounded bleak for Potrero. A Border Patrol Agent told me the town could not be saved; he was just there and said everything was in flames.

This evening, however, I spoke with Jan Hedlun, the planner who has led the fight against Blackwater. She is safe, for now, as is Carl Meyer, who organized the recall election. At least one resident is dead, several homes have burned, and the Post Office burned to the ground. (Since most voters have rural delivery service and many pick up mail at the Post Office, this complicates the election to say the least). Local news reports indicate four firefighters were seriously injured as well.

The fire is now over 5,000 acres and the evacuation area encompasses 425 acres. The wildfire is only 5% contained.

A second fire in nearby Ramona is even worse, 8,000 acres, fanned by hurricane-force Santa Ana winds. Several nearby cities including San Diego have been warned that the fire is burning in their direction. San Diego County has been declared a disaster area.

Townspeople have contended that Blackwater's plans for live fire in a brushy box canyon would heighten the risk of fire. We know see how terrible a fire starting in Potrero can be. Cause of the fire is under investigation, and some Potrero residents have voiced suspicion over who might benefit most from having the town burned down just weeks before a recall election. In fairness, Blackwater West VP Brian Bonfiglio told me that Blackwater's planned 35,000 gallon water tanks would be a benefit to the community in battling future wildfires.

The County of San Diego has just approved a controversial "Shelter in place" fire policy (which would apply to Blackwater, excusing them and other developers from having to build a secondary access road to evacuate in case of fire). Shelter in place is being applied tonight to residents of Tecate, just south of Potrero.

I pray we will not learn of a holocast in Tecate come morning, and that these winds will die down before thousands of people lose their homes, as happened during the Cedar Fire here in 2003. I can smell the smoke now, though my home is many miles from the blaze--for now.



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