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San Diego continues under siege. Overnight, the fires went unabated, despite the lower nocturnal temperatures and reduced wind velocity.

Currently, their intensity continues and increases in an uneven line from the Mexican border northward to the Marine Corps’ Camp Pendleton, a sixty-or-so-mile stretch to the San Diego County line. For contrast, the entire island of Puerto Rico measures 100 X 35 miles.

The number of evacuees exceeds 300,000, and counting. They are quartered in schools and other centers throughout the area, the largest being the football stadium and the fairgrounds. The humanitarian requirements are gargantuan. Calls have gone out for contributions of food, medicine, bedding and the like, including distractions for the multitude of children involved. Also, volunteers of many kinds are sought, especially medical personnel. Many evacuees are hospital and nursing home patients.

Of great concern also is the availability of public utilities. Some areas are without gas and/or electricity because of fire-affected relay stations. Judicious usage of those sources, as well as cell phones, has been advised.

Animals are a particular problem. Some evacuee centers do not admit pets, so shelter must be sought for them. Even greater is the problem of shelter for horses and cattle. That too is being arranged.

An estimate for control of some of the fires is given as November 4.