October 24, 2007 -- San Diego, CA -- Countless San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs and law enforcement agencies joined over 8,000 firefighters and nearly 20,000 firefighting volunteers to lessen damages of the Southern California wildfires. Collectively, 17 active wildfires burned through 781 square miles and caused $1 billion in damages in San Diego County alone. The overall aftermath of the brazen fires burned more than 1.8% of Southern California land, equal to 1.5 times the area of Los Angeles.
Masses of law enforcement personnel rapidly responded to major firestorms at the Buckweed, Witch, Harris, Canyon, Ranch, Sedgewick, and Santiago Fires. In San Diego County, law enforcement participation in fighting the wildfires was enormous. In support of the firefighters, a crisis management crusade was led by law enforcement agencies of the San Diego, El Cajon, Oceanside, Escondido, La Mesa, Santee, San Ysidro, Chula Vista, National City, Fallbrook, Poway, Vista, Lakeside, and Del Mar police departments, and the San Diego County Sheriff's department.
Also joining the collaborated fire fighter-law enforcement effort were federal agencies, including the Border Patrol, 1,500 California National Guard troops, 100 California National Guard medical personnel, 6 crews from the Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 from Naval Air Station North Island, and several aircraft and fire fighting trucks from the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
In recognition of the courageous hard work and Press Release service during the wildfires by the men and women of the San Diego County Sheriff's department and other local law enforcement agencies, Debt Free League continued their donation drive of needed drinking water supplies. An essential need of many fire victims, food and water were also a godsend to many law enforcement personnel who worked selflessly and tirelessly in helping control fire losses. Many committed sixteen-hour workdays getting hardly any sleep or decent meals.
Responding in droves primarily to the Harris Fire and Witch Fire, which together burned 288,430 acres and cost to date $32 million in damages, the San Diego County Sheriff's department deployed to the eye of the firestorms, numerous Deputy Sheriffs from its courts, jails, detective units, rifle ranges, ASTREA, and law enforcement patrol units.
Deputy Sheriffs along with other police officers risked their lives walking endless miles of perilous, fire-engulfed terrain amidst turbulent winds and toxic fumes to locate and evacuate fire victims from their homes. Numerous livestock were also saved and placed in shelters and properties were protected from looters. Eight looting arrests were made; six in the Qualcomm Stadium shelter where looters attempted to steal evacuee supplies, one in the Jamul fire area, and two near the Tecate border crossing.
Deputy Sheriffs also operated as "fire scouts", acting as the eyes and ears for the fire firefighters. This dangerous assignment was a 24-hour endeavor that required constant mental and physical alertness to efficiently track the rampant and disorderly trajectory of the wildfires.
"We're exceptionally grateful to our San Diego County Sheriff's department and many local law enforcement agencies for their heroism and selfless protection of our Press Release during the wildfire catastrophe", proudly states Mr. Gerardo Hernandez, Operations Manager of Debt Free League. The rapid law enforcement response was a definite lifesaver to many San Diego wildfire victims. Areas torn by the 2007 wildfires were visited by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, President George W. Bush and nationally known news journalists, Geraldo Rivera and CNN news anchor, Cooper Anderson.
In addition to the phenomenal California and federal law enforcement response, thanks to the vast political and news media coverage, Southern California wildfire victims quickly received millions of dollars in state and federal financial aid as well as numerous donations from local communities and businesses.
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