Wildfire — San Diego County Coastal Areas, California

2014-05-14 to 2014-05-17 · San Diego County Coastal Areas, California

Event narrative

The Poinsettia Fire started on the 14th, around 0930 PST, in the city of Carlsbad, near the intersection of Poinsettia Lane and Alicante. After the fire burned through dry brush and crossed El Camino Real, evacuation orders were issued to 11,600 homes and businesses in Carlsbad, as well as two elementary schools and a middle school. By the end of the day on the 14th, the fire had destroyed eight homes, an 18-unit condominium complex, and two commercial buildings. Three other homes sustained minor damage. The Carlsbad Unified School District closed all schools May 15th and 16th. The Encinitas school district, which straddles Carlsbad, was closed both days as well. At 1600 PST on the 14th, the fire covered more than 400 acres, threatening additional structures. Early on the 16th, the fire had burned 400 acres and was 85% contained. As a result, all of the evacuation orders were lifted. The fire was reported to be 100% contained by 1600 PST on the 17th, after reaching a size of 600 acres. The Poinsettia Fire was the most destructive of the San Diego County wildfires. It caused property damage estimated at $22.5 million. As of July 10, 2014, the cause of the fire is still listed as undetermined. A body was also discovered in the fire damage near a transient encampment, but the cause of death has not been attributed to the fire.

Wider weather episode

Mid-May was marked by a period of very hot, dry and windy conditions. This included an unusually strong Santa Ana wind event with a 1036 mb surface high over the northern Great Basin. Wind speeds were as high as 40-45 mph in SW California and 60 to 80 mph in the foothills and mountains. Over the course of four days, 8 major fires raged across San Diego County due to various causes. Several other smaller brush fires, including the Freeway Fire (56 acres near Naval Weapons Station on Camp Pendleton). At one point on the 15th, 9 fires were burning at once, many in and around residential/populated areas of north San Diego County. In total, these fires burned just under 27,000 acres, causing over $50 million in property damage and the cost to fight the fires themselves. Only minor injuries were reported and no deaths directly attributed to the fires.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 522980. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.