We are now on a fax broadcast from the official command post. We will get them at least twice a day. The following was taken over the phone from Kathy Bacon:

Kathy Bacon, Fire Information Officer Assigned to the La Jolla (Palomar Mountain) Fire
Monday Morning October 4, 1999.

Last night fire fighters were helped by cooler temp and higher humidity. The cooler temperatures made much of the fire inactive during the night. On the Southeast portion between Lake Henshaw and Hwy 76 the fire crews did some burning out to hopefully prevent the fire from spreading. 5984 acres have burned as of this morning. It is now 30% contained. Full containment is expected Tuesday, Oct 5th. This means that they plan to have a line around the fire and that it should not be getting larger. There are 944 people working on the fire. Including 56 engines, 35 hand crews of 20 people each, 5 helicopters, 3 air tankers, 9 dozers.

The primary objective is protection of homes, property and livestock. They have had some structures lost - a storage shed, construction type trailer and a uninhabited single wide storage trailer.

Some of the vegetation in the area is almost 50 years old. There are many standing dead trees and bug kill trees and dead plant material so all of that creates a very hot fire.

Some of the area is listed for endangered species -- spotted owl and southwestern fly catcher. There are forest service rehabilitation specialists that are addressing the issue.

Hwy 76 between South Grade Road and Lake Henshaw and the South Grade and the East Grade - closed to the public. Open to residents only.