19 posts tagged “2007”
Let's hope not! :(
Schwarzenegger warns of new fire threat as winds loom
Wed Oct 31, 2:33 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday ordered firefighters to prepare for renewed wildfires ahead of powerful flame-fuelling gusts forecast for next weekend.
Only three of the 23 fires that ravaged California remain active after calm winds and cooler weather allowed firefighters to tame flames which left seven people dead, destroyed 2,000 homes and led to 640,000 evacuations.
But with high temperatures and strong Santa Ana winds forecast for the end of the week, Schwarzenegger has ordered state agencies to pre-emptively deploy staff and equipment to potential high-risk areas.
"It's very important that we remain prepared and alert while there are still fires burning in southern California," Schwarzenegger said.
"This plan helps ensure that resources are strategically placed and standing ready, prepared for whatever the weekend will bring."
Air tankers, tactical aircraft, helicopters and strike firefighting teams fanning out across the state in preparation, a statement said.
Officials meanwhile said Wednesday the deadliest of the California blazes, the 90,440 Harris Fire in southern San Diego County which claimed the lives of five people, was 100 percent contained.
In a separate development, San Diego County officials said all evacuation orders across the district had been lifted.
The causes of the majority of last week's fires are under investigation although it has emerged that an inferno in northern Los Angeles County was started by a young boy playing with a box of matches.
The Buckweed fire which began in the early afternoon of Sunday, October 21, was first blamed on downed power lines, but the investigation later turned into one of suspected arson.
By Monday "detectives identified a male juvenile as the suspect," the Sheriff's Department said in a statement late Tuesday.
"After talking with the suspect, he admitted to playing with matches and accidentally starting the fire. The boy was released to his parents."
The case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office "for further action," the statement read.
I saw a collection of animation last night, and Under The Honey Chestnut Tree was especially memorable - Like the classic Disney many of us where raised on.
Hyun-min Lee, creator of UNDER THE HONEY CHESTNUT TREE
Interviewed by Sam Chen, SDAFF Artistic Programmer
Hyun-min Lee is an animator from Seoul, South Korea. She came to the United States in 2000, and has earned a degree in painting from Wesleyan University and a Masters degree in animation from the California Institute of the Arts. She enjoys working in all areas of animation, but her work mainly focuses on traditional hand drawn techniques. She cites the early Disney films as an influence on her work, and has spent time training with animators Eric Goldberg and Bert Klein. Hyun-min currently resides in the Greater Los Angeles area and continues to work on various animation projects.
 Hyun-min Lee |
What inspired the story of "Under the Honey Chestnut Tree"?
Your style is so reminiscent of classic Disney animation. What is your favorite Disney animated film, and which one(s) have you learned the most from?The person who has been the biggest inspiration in my life is my mother, and since she passed away a few years ago I was left with countless memories of the times I spent with her. I thought animation was the best medium to pay tribute to those memories, for me and for my family, so as soon as I properly learned how to animate I had to make a film about all the things that I missed about her.
Tell us about Eric Goldberg's (director of Fantasia 2000's "Rhapsody In Blue") involvement with your work.It so hard to choose! One of my favorites is "Robin Hood" because I used to watch it as a kid. I also really like "Cinderella","The Three Caballeros", and "Aladdin" and a lot of the old Disney shorts that would run Sunday mornings. We'd record them and I'd watch them over and over. It's difficult to pick a favorite, because each film has such great moments and characters in them, I've learned a lot from those bits of classic animation that make you completely forget the fact that they were hand-drawn by someone. I'd like to be able to create such memorable characters for people someday.
I was able to work with Eric on some other animation projects that he was directing and it was very inspiring to see how he worked. I've always loved his animation, especially from Fantasia 2000 (Rhapsody in Blue and Carnival of the Animals), and working with him gave me the chance to learn a lot of animation skills that helped me grow as an artist. Also, he loves animation that is timed to music and he helped me make some choices about what musical accents to hit in my film.
 A hand-drawn frame from "Under the Honey Chestnut Tree" |
What would be your ultimate dream job in animation?Don Hahn helped hone the film to the finished product that it is now. He has very good advice and his guidance has been invaluable. He knows so much about the film making process, and I couldn't have finished the film as such without his input and support.
My dream would be to ultimately be a lead animator that a director could depend on to do a character right. The classic Disney animators would be given a character and the director knew they could just do it - they had total confidence in their work and ability. I would be very happy if I could reach a point where people would have that sort of confidence in me, and I hope the work I produce can be a big part of making the film an enjoyable experience for the audience.
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Where do you get your inspiration from?For the time being I'm looking forward to being part of some bigger productions, sharpening my animation skills as much as I can, and learning more about filmmaking and animation because I'm still taking my first big steps in this field. But in the future I would definitely like to make more of my own films.
Word has it that you are the first Asian woman to work in Disney's hand-drawn department as a 2D apprentice animator. Tell us more about this position and what it means to you.I like to watch a lot of films, but I also enjoy watching people around me like my family and friends and seeing their daily emotions and reactions. No person, life, or day is exactly the same as the other and the fact that animation can capture everything from the most subtle responses to the most outrageous pieces of imagination is what inspires me to continue working.
I am starting as an animation apprentice in October, which is an animator-in-training. I am very excited and honored to be chosen for this position. I have been told that I might be the first female Asian hand drawn traditional animator in the department at Disney, but there have been Asian female animators in the Computer Animation department and Asian women in other departments as well. So for me it just means that I will always do my best to work harder and make sure that my animation will be able to stand up to the great legacy that Disney has.
This is the untold story of the San Diego Fires... how San Diegians have reached out to help their neighbors in many ways, large and small...
10/24/07 2:00 p.m.
How You Can Help
We're beginning to receive questions from staff as to how they might best help those affected by the ongoing fires in San Diego. San Diego County recommends the following options, although I'm sure there are hundreds of opportunities one can find within the community.
Donate food, goods and personal items
Non-perishable food items, as well as shelter supplies, can be dropped off at the San Diego Food Bank at 9850 Distribution Avenue, San Diego, 92121 between I-15 and I-805. For more information, contact the Food Bank at 858-527-1419.
Non-perishable food items can be dropped off to the Salvation Army at 1011 East Main Street in El Cajon, 92021. A second drop-off location is at 1301 Las Villas Way, Escondido, 92026.
The following items can be dropped off at Gate P at Qualcomm Stadium: prepared foods, water, tents, cots, blankets, personal hygiene supplies, and dust masks. For more information, please contact Goodwill Industries at (888) 446-6294. Please do not deliver supplies or food directly to Goodwill. Donors are asked to make their donations quickly and to return directly home in order to keep roadways clear for evacuation routes and emergency crews.
Volunteer your time
2-1-1 needs volunteers to work four hour shifts taking calls and filling other roles as needed.
You can e-mail Meg Storer at mstorer@211sandiego.org with your name, phone number, e-mail address, and your availability. A 2-1-1 representative will contact you directly.
here are some photos I took of the fire just beyond our house on Mt. Miguel. The pictures are from last night about 2AM and this morning about 9AM. No, I haven't had a lot of sleep! 0^o
I never saw more of San Diego on fire than last night. Heading home, it seems like everyone else was going the *other* way! And Mt. Miguel (the "mountain" behind us) was blazing furiously, neighbors milling about at 1AM getting ready to flee... It doesn't look so impressive on video, but this would be your night from Hell! We couldn't even really sleep, 'cause we didn't if the wind would come up again in the middle of the night, or something.
Yeap, they are pretty bad. I am at work and we are on Emergency Status, with one hospital possibly closing... Over 250,000 people evacuated so far. Over 10,000 at Qualcomm Stadium (Where the San Diego Chargers football team plays) tonight. We had to call everone in IS to find out their status (which kept changing during the day)...
Over the next two days, city and county officials expect the fires will eclipse the damage caused by the 2003 Cedar fire, the worst wildfire on record in California.
“This fire will probably be the worst this county has ever seen – worse than the Cedar fire,” Sheriff Bill Kolender said.
The weather forecast is equally grim. Overnight, gusting winds sparked new fires and spread smoke and ash throughout the county. Thousands of people have been forced from their homes, and scores of roads and schools have been closed.
Help from other fire agencies is on the way, but firefighters are battling severe Santa Ana winds that will ultimately determine the fires' paths.
Along with providing updates at a morning news conference, city and county officials discussed the challenges they are facing and what's ahead.
There are currently seven fires actively burning in the county. Four fires that started overnight have been extinguished.
There are reports of at least 20 people who have been treated for injuries, most having suffered burns in the Harris fire, which also claimed the life of one civilian.
At least six firefighters have been hurt battling blazes throughout the county.
There are no estimates yet on the number of structures lost or damaged, but officials said several homes have burned.
Some of the smaller fires – such as the Guejito fire – were caused by downed power lines and transformers but officials have yet to determine whatsparked the Harris or Witch fires or the other major blazes that are burning out of control.
Additional firefighting resources have been called in from as far away as Lake Tahoe and the Bay area, but those crews are being split with Los Angeles County because similar fires are burning there, said Chief Bill Metcalf, county area fire coordinator.
A thousand fire engines have been called and about a quarter of them have arrived.
Metcalf described the fire conditions as “extraordinarily dangerous” and “dramatically worsening.” “This is nowhere near finished,” he said. “This is worst than many of us imagined. We're seeing 100 to 200 feet flame lengths and truly explosive fire behavior.”
The Witch fire is rapidly burning in two directions – to the west and to the south. It has crossed Interstate 15 at Lake Hodges into Rancho Bernardo.
“I think it will go to the ocean before it stops,” Metcalf said, which means the fire would pass through Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach and Encinitas.
Metcalf also is concerned that the Witch fire will take the same path as the Cedar fire, south through Wildcat Canyon, Barona, Lakeside and Santee.
The Harris fire continues to move “dramatically to the west and cause a great deal of destruction,” Metcalf said.
He expects the fire to spread to the ocean through the communities of Otay Lakes and Chula Vista.
The Coronado Hills fire in San Marcos, like the Harris and Witch fires, is zero percent contained, Metcalf said. He fears it could burn west through Carlsbad.
The Rice Canyon Fire, east of Interstate 15 and south of Temecula, is threatening Fallbrook.
“It's one of those days that are beyond our capabilities,” said San Diego Fire-Rescue Chief Tracy Jarman.
Firefighting efforts have been hindered because the aircrafts used to fight the flames are grounded due to strong winds and poor visibility.
Jarman said 240 firefighters and 60 engines are in Rancho Bernardo “trying to hold the line.”
Along with dangerous weather conditions, firefighters said they haven't been able to get ahead of the flames because their efforts have been focused on rescuing people.
“We haven't done any suppression because in most cases fire personnel are being pulled off to do rescues of people who were told to evacuate,” Metcalf said.
Officials repeatedly urged residents to evacuate if told to do so or if they see fire.
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders told residents to minimize their cell phone use and calls to 911 to avoid clogging the emergency lines.
“These fires are moving very quickly so you really need to pay attention,” he said.
The mayor said city employees are staffing an evacuation relief center at Qualcomm Stadium “because the Red Cross is maxed out.”
County Supervisor Ron Roberts said dozens of roads have been closed and several school districts have canceled classes.
He urged residents to stay tuned to news reports.
“We have every reason to believe the weather conditions will remain the same the next couple days. That's the bad news,” Roberts said.
County Supervisor Dianne Jacobs said “lives are more important in this kind of situation. Property can be replaced. . . we don't know what will happen next, but we will get through this.”
Angelica Martinez: (619) 293-1317;
I am OK. Worse than first thought, but I am in no danger...
Mike
San Diego County 'Harris' Fire Kills 1, Injures 17
Multiple Homes Lost
POTRERO, Oct. 21, 2007 (CNS) - A wind-fueled brush fire in rural southern San Diego County that has grown to 14,000 acres killed one person Sunday and injured 17 others, including four firefighters hospitalized in serious condition.
The Sheriff's Department issued mandatory evacuations along Highway 94 for residents in Barrett Junction, Engineer Springs, Dulzura and all areas in between. The communities of Potrero, Tecate and parts of Deerhorn Valley have also been evacuated.
"This is about as worse (as) fire condition(s) can get," said Cal Fire Capt. Matt Streck, who said ground crews focused on evacuating residents rather than protecting property due to the speed of the blaze.
The fire was burning along two fronts to the northwest, with the southern "head" burning past Barrett Lake Road south of Highway 94 and the northern flank moving toward Mother Grundy Peak, Cal Fire reported.
The fire was being driven by Santa Ana winds of 30 to 35 mph, with occasional stronger gusts, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said the conflagration was about 5 percent contained.
Authorities did not immediately identify the person who perished in the blaze or the circumstances or location of the death. Twelve other civilians were burned, but officials did not elaborate or provide condition reports.
"With all of the burn injuries to civilians, this indicates how extremely dangerous these fires can be," Cal Fire's Roxanne Provaznik said. "Residents are strongly advised to follow evacuation orders give by law enforcement."
The four firefighters were airlifted to the UC San Diego Burn Center. According to a Cal Fire dispatcher, the firefighters' injuries, while serious, did not appear to be life-threatening.
Authorities said the firefighters were trapped in a so-called "burn-over." They were overcome by towering flames that shot over their heads, apparently while defending a structure -- similar to what happened last October when five firefighters were killed in the Esperanza wildfire in Riverside County.
David Janssen, with Cal Fire, told a reporter that the injured firefighters were expected to survive.
"They seem to be doing well," he said.
Displaced residents were being sent to Steele Canyon High School in Spring Valley, 12440 Campo Road.
Highway 94 was closed between Otay Lakes Road and Forest Gate and at Honey Springs Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
More than 300 firefighters were battling the Santa Ana wind-fueled flames. For a time this afternoon, air tankers and helicopters were grounded due to heavy smoke, but were allowed back in the air about 5:15 p.m.
The Harris Fire was one of two brush fires burning in the county. Another blaze, dubbed the Witch Fire, between Ramona and Julian also had topped 5,000 acres by late Sunday afternoon, but no injuries were reported.
With much of Southern California under a Red Flag warning, meaning an increased risk of wildfires because of dry and windy conditions, brush fires were also burning in Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles counties, threatening structures and prompting evacuations. However, the only reported fatality so far has been in the Harris fire.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in the seven-county Southern California region because of the fires.
Copyright © 2007 KABC-TV and City News Service (CNS). All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Lots of photos up on Flickr (finally) inclusing many of the actors from the West Coast premiere of West 32nd, including "Harold" of Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle John Cho. My girl Grace Park was going to attend, but was too busy with filming the new season of Battlestar Galactica we hear, The movie was great and the fans awesome!
Yeap, it's tonight... the west coast premiere of the film that played to overflowing crowds at Tribeca...
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