DAN KIDDER SIGNS OFF FOR THE NIGHT

Dan Kidder, who chose to stay in Valley Center, has sent us another report for the evening.

"Tuesday evening here in Valley Center came on with a welcome calm, as the
winds that were causing so much trouble for firefighters were steadily
reduced to nothing. Around 4 p.m., there was something of a light breeze,
and by 5 p.m., there was a dead calm for nearly two hours. Other than the
smoke to the north, it looked like a regular autumn day here in Southern
California.
Since then, the only reports we've heard have been good; the flames that
had been advancing towards North Lake Wohlford Road were reportedly held
up by the firefighters. As darkness fell, a glance in the direction of the
middle school showed no signs of that ominous orange glow we saw last
night and this morning, although it's still hard to tell what exactly is
happening over those hills.
It also seems like a lot of people stayed put, despite the mandatory
evacuations, as one by one house lights on the surrounding hills blinked
on. Every few minutes, a car could be heard nearby on Vesper, or more
distantly on Valley Center Road, heading east in both cases. There was a
helicopter over to the southeast at one point, and some sirens heading
away from the North Lake Wohlford area back towards Cole Grade, but the
overall feeling is one of calm.
To be on the safe side, I will be heading to Escondido for the night, as
will my neighbors. We all feel quite confident that the danger is minimal
to none, but at this point, there's no need to take any chances.
We've heard that the evacuation orders won't be lifted until sometime
Wednesday afternoon, but there hasn't been any official word at this
point, so the best thing to do is keep checking in with local news
broadcasts.
Of course, anything can happen at this point, but given what we expected
and what we've actually seen here over the course of the last two days,
Valley Center has been extremely fortunate to have escaped with very
little damage. The evacuations were quick and effective, and even though
information has been scarce and sometimes unclear, it looks as though
things here are much better than what people have heard in other areas.
So now we wait to hear more good news, and we think of our surrounding
communities and the ongoing battles there. Count your blessings, Valley
Center, and let's do what we can to help others around us as we try to get
through this as best we can."

Dan Kidder
Sports/Valley Life Editor
Valley Roadrunner