At 4:30 pm on Monday, Oceanside issued mandatory evacuation orders for 1,023 residents of Oceanside.
More than 100 of them came to the Red Cross Evacuation site at El Camino High School located at 400 Rancho del Oro Drive.
The Mayor of Oceanside, Jim Wood, said the evacuation order should continue until at least Tuesday morning. He thinks the city may have escaped the worst, but realizes the winds could intensify overnight.
Mayor Wood said with the morning's daylight, fire crews will assess the damage. If all is clear, they will lift the evacuation order and allow people to return home.
He says there are many reasons to stay away from home Monday night including poor air quality and fear of looting.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross is providing free food, water, and shelter for people and their pets at El Camino High.
9-year-old Josh Oco brought his favorite dog Marty. He didn't know what to do when he saw the fire, "I was like, 'Man, I can see the flames!'"
He ran into his mom's room, "I was panicking and she told me to get the dogs! And the planes were swooping by and the dogs were barking at them."
David Alvarado had never been an evacuee before this fire. When he came home Monday afternoon, he says "I saw the orange sky and said 'Oh no'!"
"At that point you want to grab the bare necessities," he added. When he was leaving his home, "I'm just thinking about my neighbors. I'm watching my neighbor spraying down his front yard with a hose, but at the same time, I've got two kids and a wife. So I got a little bit of a thing going on there."
Lindsay Hood of the American Red Cross encourages people not to panic, especially since the ARC has gone through this procedure so many times in the past.
Debbie Dala was grateful to the volunteers, but most grateful she was with her son. "I have what's most important here."
Josh Oco clutched his dog, gave him a kiss, and said "I'm so happy right now, my family is all here, and my dog is happy."
Pet Shelter
North County Humane Society & SPCA has opened an emergency animal shelter at
El Camino High School. The shelter will remain open as long as it is deemed necessary.
The emergency shelter is able to house several hundred animals including farm animals and livestock.
The shelter is located behind the El Camino High gym in the Agricultural department.
They are also accepting cash donations to help care for the animals in their care.
Thanks to a generous donation from Petco, they are fully stocked with food and pet supplies.
Camp Pendleton Evacuees
Camp Pendleton residents displaced from their homes should report to the Stuart Mesa Lincoln Military Housing Office, Building 310001 in Camp Pendleton’s 31 Area. The Paige Field House, in the 11 Area, is serving as initial collection point only.
Stuart Mesa Housing is accepting displaced residents, and an American Red Cross site has been established there, and is distributing food, water, and basic toiletries. The exchanges in Stuart Mesa and Del Mar are also extending their hours until 2200.
The San Luis Rey Gate is currently closed, as is the section of Vandergrift Blvd. from the San Luis Rey Gate to Rattlesnake Canyon Rd.
Camp Pendleton residents should refer to the Base Web site, at www.pendleton.usmc.mil, and the Base Information Hotline at (760) 725-9045, for further information. Both resources will be updated as frequently as more information becomes available.
In addition, Camp Pendleton personnel looking for information on their work schedules for Tuesday should also refer to the Base Web site and the Base Information Hotline, or their Battalion command. When a decision has been reached, it will be posted on these resources.
