Facts About the 2003 Fire – from a resident
October 20, 2009
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Reading about all the accusations regarding the accusations regarding the fire trucks during the 2003 Cedar fire, I would like to have everyone recall that there were actually 2 fires in the Beeler Canyon/Creek Rd. Areas in the year 2003.
The first fire was on August 27, 2003 when a fire started across the street from the residences in the large creek area to the north side of Creek Road, a bit eastward from the Rexford residence. The fire started when two electric lines snapped together and fell to the ground in the weeds. I live further East on the Poway side of Beeler Canyon Rd. And I saw a great amount of smoke with winds fanning the flames toward my Ranch and horses at a very fast speed. I called the Fire Dept. But others had called in already.
The fire trucks rolled onto Creek Rd. And stopped by the fire’s origin and seemed to just stay in that area as flames rushed towards my property. Finally a resident further down Beeler Canyon Rd. Went to the fire trucks and informed them that there was houses and horses beyond the fire’s origin and that they should get down here. They then sent a fire truck down Beeler Canyon as flames were now 40 ft..and approaching my driveway. A helicopter also arrived and began spraying my property to help save my house and outbuildings.
The Fire Department did set up their base camp near the fire’s origin which was across the street from the residences on Creek Road. They stayed thru the night and called in other crews to watch the canyon for hot spots during the night and early morning hours.
As for the Cedar Fire on October 26, 2003, after waking up and seeing the red glow in the eastern skyline, we started evacuating our horses. As the fire kept coming closer and closer, three fire trucks rolled in down Creek and Beeler Canyon Roads and minutes later returned, rolling back out, saying “There’s nothing we can do for you, you’re onyour own”! Naturally we were all shocked that they left our canyon. No, there were NO FIRE TRUCKS parked anywhere on Creek Rd. Or Beeler Canyon Rd. Even Mickey Cafagna, could attest to that fact as he was here with many of the residents watching the fire burn.
That fire burned brush right down to the resident’s fences who live in the Beeler Canyon area and then suddenly turned southward heading into Scripps Ranch. So the purpose of this letter is to point out that there were two fires in 2003 and people who live outside this area making accusations regarding fire trucks in the Creek RoadlBeeler Canyon area cannot know what really happened here and could
be mixing information from one fire to another.
Sincerely,
Carol Funk
11319 Creek Rd.
Poway, Ca 92064