I just spoke to Jeff Bowman on the phone. He was the city of San Diego’s fire chief in 2003 when the Cedar Fire claimed hundreds of buildings and 15 people’s lives.
Bowman lives in Vista. He said he’s packing up and leaving.
I asked him if the fires could get as bad as last time.
“Put it this way: The weather factor is going to change everything. This is a much more significant situation than last time. If this thing gets to Rancho Santa Fe, which it’s estimated to do, then they’re in big trouble,” he said.