High Wind — San Diego T X W, California

2001-01-03 · San Diego T X W, California

Wider weather episode

Dry Santa winds caused a discarded cigarette butt in the median of Interstate 8 to grow into a 10,353 acre brush fire. Resources used to fight the fire cost over $8 million and involved 2000 fire fighters, nine helicopters, and nine air tankers. Property damaged or destroyed in the fire consisted of 15 single family homes, 65 outbuildings, 15 trailers, and 164 motor vehicles. Several livestock were burned and later euthanasized.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5229042. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.