It turned out to be flickering, embryonic flames of the largestwildfire in California history. Haubold was told: “We know about it it’s nothing.” Weldon headed east.Īs he did, Herb Haubold, who lives in the rural enclave ofBarona Mesa next to the forest, noticed smoke. The missing person call was relayed to San Diego CountySheriff’s Deputy Dave Weldon, a helicopter pilot, who was rescuingan Alzheimer’s patient in Oceanside. He lit a signal fire to highlight his locationagainst the rapidly darkening landscape. NORTH COUNTY - The hurricane from hell began with the spark ofa lost hunter, fire officials say.ĭehydrated, disoriented and separated from his partner, SergioMartinez, 33, of West Covina, wandered for hours Saturday in therugged Cedar Creek Falls area of Cleveland National Forest.Īt 4:32 p.m., his partner gave up trying to find him and calledfor help on a cell phone.Īs the orange ball of the sun fell in the western sky, Martinezgave up, too. Forest Service, California Department of Forestryand Fire Protection and San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. But these are all “coulds.”Īs for now: This is the story of the San Diego County firestormsof 2003, compiled from numerous interviews, as well as dispatchlogs of the U.S. And new rules could spring up forbuilding in the backcountry. State and federal agencies could launch an aggressivecampaign to thin vegetation. Wooden shake-shingle roofs couldbe banned. Numerous rural fire districts could mergeinto one countywide superdistrict.

San Diego County could purchase air tankers - and increasetaxes to pay for them. Changes, too, in the manner - and place - peoplechoose to live in one of the most fire-prone environments onearth.

Changes in theway authorities manage the chaparral-carpeted slopes and forests ofoak and pine. Changes in the way local agencies fight fires.

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