Cocos Fire | |
---|---|
Date(s) |
|
Location | San Marcos, San Diego County, California |
Coordinates | 33°06′49″N117°09′36″W / 33.1137°N 117.1599°W |
Statistics [1] | |
Burned area | 1,995 acres (8 km2) |
Impacts | |
Deaths | None reported |
Non-fatal injuries | 3 |
Structures destroyed | 40 |
Damage | $5.7 million (2014 USD) [2] |
Ignition | |
Cause | Arson |
Perpetrator(s) | Unidentified juvenile |
Map | |
Cocos Fire, originally known as the Twin Oaks Fire, [3] was a wildfire that ignited on May 14, 2014 in San Marcos, California, in the hills south of California State University, San Marcos. [4] The Cocos Fire quickly spread into western Escondido. The fire destroyed more than 40 buildings, including a dozen single-family homes. [5] The Harmony Grove Spiritualist Association, a 13-acre spiritualist retreat founded in 1896, was particularly hard hit; [6] most of the buildings and residences on the property were destroyed, and the association's president said, "We're pretty much wiped out." [7] Property damage from the fire is estimated at more than $5.7 million. Three minor injuries have been reported. [2] The Cocos Fire was the last of the May 2014 wildfires in San Diego County to be extinguished, with full containment on May 22, 2014. [1]
The Cocos Fire began at 5:38 PM PDT on May 14, and it had burned 400 acres (160 ha) by the evening of the same day. Flames were reported near homes, and the southeastern part of the city was ordered evacuated. [4] By the morning of May 15, the Cocos Fire was the top priority for county firefighters. The fire grew overnight to 800 acres (320 ha) and was only 5% contained. Additional evacuations were announced. [8] During the afternoon of May 15, the fire grew to 1,200 acres (490 ha). [1] By the morning of May 16, the fire was still only 5% contained. [9] At 6:30 PM PDT on May 22, the Cocos Fire was reported to be 100% contained, after it had reached 1,995 acres (8.07 km2). [1]
All schools in the San Marcos Unified School District were closed on May 15 and 16. [10] California State University, San Marcos, was evacuated on May 14, along with the surrounding neighborhoods, in the midst of administering spring finals, [11] [12] and remained closed for the rest of the week. Additionally, commencement exercises scheduled for the weekend were also cancelled. [13] Palomar College also closed May 15 and 16, and postponed its commencement ceremonies until the following week. [14]
On July 9, 2014, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office said that they believe the Cocos Fire was intentionally set by a 13-year-old juvenile. [15] She had a hearing set in February 2015, and the trial was held in March 2015. [16] On March 24, the then 14-year-old minor was found guilty of multiple counts of arson and one misdemeanor count of unlawfully allowing a fire to escape one's control. The judge concluded that she "intentionally and maliciously" set a fire in her Washingtonia Avenue backyard in San Marcos, and a blown ember from that Washingtonia Fire started the Cocos Fire. [17] [18] On May 27, the teenager was sentenced to 400 hours of community service, ordered to write letters to all the victims, and pay at least $40,000 in restitution. [19] Additionally, the teen was ordered to enroll in a rehabilitation program known as Breaking Cycles 365, the goal of which is to prevent juveniles from becoming repeat offenders. [20]
[21] ==Gallery==
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San Marcos is a city in the North County region of San Diego County, California. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 94,833. It is the site of California State University San Marcos and Palomar College. The city is bordered by Escondido to the east, Encinitas to the southwest, Carlsbad to the west, and Vista to the northwest. Lake San Marcos is an enclave, or county island, within the southwestern part of the city and its sphere of influence but is an unincorporated community.
North County is a region in the northern area of San Diego County, California. It is the second-most populous region in the county, with an estimated population of 869,322. North County is well known for its affluence, especially in Encinitas, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Poway and Solana Beach, where house prices range, on average, above $1,000,000. Cities along the 78 freeway have more mixed incomes.
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The May 2014 San Diego County wildfires were a swarm of 20 wildfires that erupted during May 2014, in San Diego County, California, during severe Santa Ana Wind conditions, historic drought conditions, and a heat wave. The main event during mid-May was preceded by a precursor fire that ignited on May 5. The Bernardo Fire has been declared accidental, and officials believe the Cocos Fire was intentionally set. The causes of the other fires are still under investigation by multiple agencies, and a joint task force was formed to coordinate the investigations and facilitate communications. Six injuries and one fire-related fatality were reported.
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