Wildfires continued to rage throughout San Diego County Thursday morning, leaving tens of thousands of residents unsure of when, and whether, they might be able to return home.

At least nine fires have ravaged more than 9,000 acres, destroying homes and forcing thousands to flee in communities throughout North County. Local officials say the blazes, which prompted Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency, are the worst they've seen in years.

"I’ve never seen anything like this in 20 years," San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn said. 

• MAP: Wildfires Burn Across San Diego County

By Thursday, six separate fires remained, and crews turned their attention to containing what officials described as the "top priority" blaze: an 800-acre fire burning in San Marcos that has already destroyed at least three structures and forced 21,000 from their homes. That blaze, named the Cocos Fire, was just 5 percent contained Thursday morning.

In all, the concurrent fires had consumed or damaged more than a dozen structures and caused tens of millions of dollars in damage. Firefighters readied for another day of battling the blazes, as the National Weather Service warned of hot and dry conditions that could further stoke the flames.

• RAW: Dramatic Video of San Marcos Fire | RAW: Super Tanker Drops Fire Retardant

"It’s one of those things where you see it on the news, you see it on TV and movies and it's weird to look at your own house and be like it's no longer my home," said Adam Gilmore, whose family home in Carlsbad was gutted by the Poinsettia Fire. "That kind of brings this weird feeling. It's not really sadness it's not really depression, it’s just this weird feeling that this is the end."

While some evacuation orders were lifted Thursday, life for many residents remained on hold. Officials urged people stay off the road in affected areas to make way for emergency vehicles. All schools in San Diego and many in more than 20 nearby cities are closed Thursday, forcing 130,000 children and teens to stay home. Cal State at San Marcos would remain closed Thursday, too. All three MiraCosta College campuses will be closed on Thursday, May 15. Final examinations on all sites were postponed.

• VIDEO: Carlsbad Homeowner: It’s OK, I’m Alive
• VIDEO: ‘That’s No Longer My Home’ 

All flights in and out of Palomar Airport are cancelled for Thursday including United Express. The FAA has issued a temporary flight restriction at Palomar Airport overnight.

In San Marcos, the erratic Cocos Fire destroyed at least three homes and forced the evacuation of Cal State and 21,000 homes, as flames spread down the hillside behind the campus. The school canceled this weekend's commencement ceremonies due to the blazes, too.

Complete List of School Closures | List of Areas Under Evacuation

That fire was the biggest immediate concern for firefighting crews late Wednesday, officials said, and they planned rare overnight air drops in an effort to best it. But despite those efforts, the "erratic" fire continued on its southbound path, spreading to 700 acres.

Further west, the Poinsettia Fire was scorching a twisting path through Carlsbad and its canyons, after it destroyed four homes and two commercial buildings and damaged others. In all, 22 dwelling units were destroyed, Chief Mike Davis said Thursday.

Greg Skaska lived in the home for more than 30 years and said when he realized the fire was threatening the house, he had no time to grab any personal things.

“No time. We had to leave. But it’s OK. I'm alive," he said.

That fire was 60 percent contained by Thursday morning.  "saved hundreds of homes."

“We’ve had many devastating events similar to this and we’ve had tragic events in this community and one thing I know to be true about this community is that it always comes together,”

By far the region's largest fire, the Tomahawk Fire, scorched thousands of acres on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. That fast-moving brush fire prompted evacuations, but military aircraft were making inroads in battling it.

Hundreds also fled the Highway Fire, as it scorched hundreds of acres in the Bonsall and Fallbrook area of North County.

Fallbrook resident Sam Curreri told NBC 7 he was worried about leaving his home behind. "You've got mementos in there, you've got pictures, you've got clothes. I may only walk out of here with what I've got on, right?" he said.

In Oceanside, dry brush and heavy vegetation were feeding another wildfire that first broke out in the San Luis Rey River riverbed Wednesday. Residents and an elementary school were urged to evacuated voluntarily, as Oceanside officers went door to door to dozens of homes.

More than 8,000 customers are without electricity after several fires and dangerous wind conditions forced San Diego Gas & Electric to turn off power.

In Carlsbad, 2,836 customers lost power amid mandatory evacuations for thousands of residents in the area as a fire destroyed at least three homes and damaged more than a dozen others.

Nearly a thousand customers are without power in Camp Pendleton and Fallbrook after two fires, one in Camp Pendleton and another in Fallbrook, threatened homes.

According to SDG&E, 1,215 customers are without power in the Ramona area, while in Alpine, power was shut off for 250 customers for safety purposes.

Legoland also saw its power shut off, prompting officials to evacuate the park.

SDG&E said customers whose power was shut off were notified in advance via phone.

Because of the fires' impact on what they are calling "major transmission infrastructures," utility officials urged customers to reduce power usage immediately, asking county residents to turn off all appliances and lights that are not being used, as well as turning up thermostats to reduce power consumption.

The estimated time for power to be restored in these areas is either not known or estimated to be as early as 10 p.m.

For the latest information on where outages are occurring, visit SDG&E’s outage map. 

NBC Primetime is moving to COZI-TV. COZI-TV can be found on COX Cable at 807, Time Warner Cable at 253 and Over the Air at 39.2. Also, "Days of Our Lives" will air on NBC 7 at 3 a.m.

Workers continued a massive cleanup after streets flooded, two people were hospitalized and a strip club was evacuated when an early-morning crude oil pipeline break sent a geyser of black goo spurting into the air Thursday.

Streets were closed in Atwater Village near Glendale northeast of downtown Los Angeles after approximately 10,000 gallons of crude oil -- enough to fill a backyard swimming pool -- spilled over a half-mile area. An above-ground 20-inch pipeline broke around 12:15 a.m. Thursday near 5175 W. San Fernando Rd.

• Watch: Raw Video of Oil Geyser

Health officials said the asphalt in the area was as hot as 126 degrees. A health advisory was issued as rising temperatures and the oil spill combined to create extreme odors, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Public Health Department.

"Cleanup of this spill is progressing, but individuals may experience discomfort from odors from the residual crude," said Jonathan E. Fielding, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. "Sensitive individuals, including children, seniors, and people with chronic disease such as heart or lung disease, should exercise caution, and limit their outdoor activities as long as odors persist."

The odors could result in mild, temporary health impacts, such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, dizziness, or upset stomach, Fielding said.

Oil shot 15 to 20 feet upward and onto a nearby business, The Gentlemen’s Club, coating the windows. The Gentlemen's Club, which according to its website features "full nude exotic dancers," was evacuated, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Two workers from a nearby industrial plant for Baxter, a healthcare company, were sickened by the fumes and transported to the hospital.

Aerial video showed pools of oil across several blocks and on top of the adult entertainment club.

"This oil comes from the Bakersfield area, this is a pumping transfer station and pumping transfer station then transfers the oil to a storage facility in Long Beach," Batallion Chief David Spence said.

LAFD reported that oil was knee-high in some areas.

• Watch: Air Tanker Drop Over Brush Fire

The pipeline, which trasports oil from Bakersfield to Texas, was remotely shut off within 10 minutes of firefighters arriving, but oil continued to spew for an additional 45 minutes, according to the LAFD.

The spill happened in a predominantly industrial area. Four workers from Baxter were evaluated for general illness and respiratory concerns and two of them were taken to the hospital.

A total of five commercial businesses have been affected, according to LAFD. Oil did not go inside any of the businesses.

• Download: NBCLA News App

Several blocks near San Fernando Road and West Broadway have been cordoned off as fire crews and clean up officials work to clear the area. Clean up could take at least 24 hours.

Most of the oil on the street has been vaccumed up and crews will now use absorbent diapers to sop up the oil, according to LAFD Chief Jaime Moore. Moore said that crews will then pressure wash everything using a soapy soluion to remove any remaining oil on the asphalt.

San Fernando Road between Brazil Street and Electronics Place is currently closed and businesses on Brazil Street are expected to be inaccessible while crews clean up the spill.

The Department of Transportation is assisting with traffic.

• Read: Sunbather Hit by County Truck at Venice Beach

The LAFD had initially reported that it was a 50,000-gallon oil spill, but that number was reduced to 10,000 gallons a few hours later.

Kate Larsen contributed to this report.

When a couple of roommates living in an upstate college town found more than $40,000 in a secondhand couch they bought from a thrift store, they decided to track down the money’s rightful owner instead of keeping it for themselves, according to a student news blog.

The New Paltz roommates, Reese Werkhoven, Cally Guasti and Lara Russo, picked up the couch at a Salvation Army for $20. They didn't have it for long before Werkhoven found an envelope stuffed with $20 bills under a dingy arm rest, reports the Little Rebellion, a student-run news blog at SUNY New Paltz.

“I almost peed,” he said. “The most money I’d ever found in a couch was like 50 cents.”

The cash added up to $700, and the roommates started looking for more, tearing through the fold-out and sticking their hands in every crevice. They pulled out envelope after envelope filled with cash, the total eventually adding up to more than $40,000.

Werkhoven, a SUNY New Paltz student, and Guasti and Russo, both recent college grads, began to talk about what they’d do with the money. They planned to pay off student loans and take a trip. Werkhoven told the Little Rebellion he wanted to buy his mom a new car.

But when Russo found a woman’s name on one of the envelopes, they told the blog, they stopped making plans.

“We all agreed that we had to bring the money back to whoever it belonged to,” Russo said. “It’s their money – we didn’t earn it.”

Werkhoven’s mom found the woman’s name and number in a phone book the next day, so they gave her a call. Werkhoven told the woman he thought he had bought her couch from the Salvation Army.

“Oh, I left a lot of money in that couch,” she told him.

The students took the money over the elderly woman’s house, and there she told them that she started stashing money from her husband in the fold-out more than 30 years ago. After he died, she kept hiding away money and slept on the fold-out.

When she had to go to rehabilitation after a back surgery, the woman told them, her daughter and son-in-law gave the couch to the Salvation Army not knowing what was hidden in between the cushions, and replaced it with a full-size bed.

“When we handed the money back to the woman, she told us that she felt like her husband was present in the room with us,” Guasti told the Little Rebellion.

The woman then gave the three roommates $1,000 to split as a reward for returning the money.

The family of a Southern California toddler rescued by his pet cat from a vicious dog attack said on NBC's "Today" show that they were surprised by the feline's heroic actions.

“It was pretty amazing to see just a cat take on a dog and so selflessly just put herself out there and not worry about if she was going to get bit or injured herself," said Roger Triantafilo, father of 4-year-old Jeremy. "I think that dog did not know what hit him.”

Jeremy was playing on his bicycle in his driveway in Bakersfield Tuesday when the next door neighbor’s dog sneaked up behind him and began biting his leg, home security camera footage posted to YouTube shows.

• WATCH: Family Cat Saves Boy From Dog Attack

The family’s cat, Tara, rushed the dog twice and chased it away.

“It’s honestly just a blur,” Jeremy's mother Erica Triantafilo said on "Today" Thursday of the attack by the 8-month-old labrador-chow mix. “I just remember hearing [Jeremy] and the next thing I know, I see my cat flying out of nowhere, onto this dog."

Jeremy suffered two deep cuts on his leg and received 10 stitches, his parents said. During Thursday's interview, he slept in his mom's arms while Tara played next to him.

“He’s just bouncing back from this. He tells us it feels better, and he’s ready to get out there and run around and play with other kids again,” Erica Triantafilo said.

Roger Triantafilo said he didn’t realize the cat’s role in his son’s rescue until he checked the home surveillance video.

“I was like, ‘Well, you know, I’m going to check the tape and see if we got anything, and see if it even caught what happened," he said. The video went viral Wednesday and had more than five million views on YouTube by Thursday.

The owners of the dog that attacked Jeremy voluntarily brought it to the Bakersfield Animal Care Center where it will be quarantined then euthanized.

The Triantafilos said they never expected that Tara, the stray cat they adopted six years ago, would become their son's savior.

“Every once in a while she puts our dog back into her place, but for the most part, she’s just the most mellow cat you’ve ever met,” Erica Triantafilo said. “All our boys love her and pick on her occasionally. She just loves them right back anyway.”

A South Jersey landscaper and his employee told police that they buried a mother of two alive and poured lime on her body before covering her up and leaving her for dead.

Fatima Perez thought she was going to buy a car for $8,000 when landscaper and friend Carlos Alicea-Antonetti picked her up Monday night.

Instead she was headed towards her death.

One of the 41-year-old’s suspected killers led police to a shallow grave near Clayton Road between Corkery Lane and Tuckahoe Road in Monroe Township, N.J. Wednesday morning.

• Roommates Find $40K in Couch, Return Cash to Owner
• Caught on Cam: BMXers Shoot Man Walking Down Street

That suspect, Ramon Ortiz, told detectives that he helped his Villa Coamo Landscaping and General Maintenance boss Alicea-Antonetti bury Perez, according to probable cause statement obtained by NBC10.com. Ortiz, 57, also allegedly told police that Perez was alive when they placed her in the hole.

"For a woman of her character and stature to have died in this manner is horrible and very traumatic to her family," said Camden County Prosecutor Warren Faulk.

• Rapist List Keeps Reappearing at Columbia University

Investigators say Perez died from asphyxiation and ruled her death a homicide.

Police say Alicea-Antonetti, 36, told investigators that he picked up Perez at her N 41st Street, Camden home on Monday night to take her to get a car she found on Craigslist. At some point the two began to argue and Alicea-Antonetti says Perez fell out of his van during the argument, according to police.

Alicea-Antonetti said Perez was hurt in the fall but still managed to get back in his van. At this point, he told police he picked up his employee, Ortiz, from a job site as Perez laid in the back of the van.

The two men then allegedly tied up Perez and placed duct tape over her mouth and eyes before driving to a wooded area where Ortiz dug a hole, according to Alicea-Antonetti’s statement to police.

Alicea-Antonetti said Perez was still breathing as they poured lime on her body and covered her up. He said Ortiz tried to disguise the shallow grave by placing branches and debris over top.

Ortiz told police that his boss picked him up and that he didn’t even notice Perez at first because she was already tied up in the back of the van. He told police that they drove along Route 42 until Alicea-Antonetti pulled off to a wooded area and directed Ortiz to dig a hole.

Police said Ortiz couldn’t describe the exact location of the grave but that he was able to lead police to the spot, according to investigators.

Investigators said Alicea-Antonetti had about $7,000 on him at the time of his arrest. Perez's family suspects money was the motive behind her murder.

Both Ortiz and Alicea-Antonetti are set to be arraigned in Camden County on Thursday afternoon.

Perez's mother told NBC10 that her daughter came to America from Nicaragua eight years ago for a better life. 

The names of four male Columbia University students are repeatedly appearing on bathroom walls and on fliers at the campus by someone alleging they are "sexual assault violators on campus."

The list first appeared last week, according to The New York Times. It was removed, but has since been redrawn on walls in other women's bathrooms and handed out on fliers headlined "Rapists on Campus."

The fliers say the school has found the men "responsible" for sexual assault.

A group of students filed complaints with the federal Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights last month alleging the school has mishandled claims of sexual assault. The students alleged that school officials tell students who file claims that they can't talk about their cases outside campus.

It's not known if the two are related.

One of the women who filed a federal complaint last month said Thursday she didn't know who was behind the lists but supports the idea.

"We want these rapists off our campus," said Rakhi Agrawal. "We want everyone to know who these people are so that they can keep themselves safe."

The university said Thursday that "graffiti is routinely removed by facilities staff," and said it had no further comment "on the particulars of disciplinary proceedings regarding sexual misconduct."

Students had mixed opinions about the vigilante campaign.

"That's probably well-deserved frustration, I just think there's other ways to handle it," said Alex Carames.

--Michael George contributed to this story

The estimated $22.5 million in damage done by the Poinsettia Fire in Carlsbad is starting to come to light.

The brush fire destroyed 18 condos, four single-family homes and two commercial buildings, according city officials. Six more homes and one other structured were also damaged.

About 300 firefighters were on the front lines Thursday morning. As of 7 a.m., the Poinsettia Fire had burned 400 acres and was 60 percent contained.

On Wednesday, the county issued 15,000 evacuation notices homes, cell phones and businesses in the area wast of El Fuerte Road, south of Palomar Airport Road, north of Aviara Parkway and west to the coast.

• Carlsbad Man after Fire Destroys Home: “It’s OK, I’m Alive”

As of 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, residents in the area east of El Camino Real and south of Alga Road were allowed to go back home.

At 10:45 p.m., evacuation orders were lifted along Aviara Parkway from Poinsettia to Ambrosia.

Evacuations have also been lifted in the area south of Aviara Parkway and the following streets north of Aviara Parkway: Blackrail, Nightshade, Tohee, Cormorant and Baccharis.

About 600 customers in the area of El Camino and Black Rail Road are still without power, according to the SDG&E Outage Map.

The following Carlsbad roads remain closed:

• Aviara Parkway from Ambrosia Lane to El Camino Real
• El Camino Real from Alga Road to Palomar Airport Road
• Camino Vida Roble between Palomar Airport Road and El Camino Real
• Poinsettia Lane from Black Rail Road to El Camino Real
• Palomar Oaks Way
• Cassia Road

Legoland California closed early Wednesday, but is open Thursday.

Firefighters hope calmer winds with help their efforts. As of 10 a.m. Thursday, Carlsbad was at 94 degrees with 3 mph winds and 6 percent humidity, according to NBC 7 meteorologist Jodi Kodesh.

• San Diego’s Most Accurate Forecast

Fire officials are investigating the cause of the Poinsettia Fire and multiple other brush fires that sparked in San Diego County on Wednesday. Anyone who noticed suspicious activity that could have started the fire is asked to call 760-602-7599 or email PoinsettiaFire@carlsbadca.gov.

Another brush fire sent San Diego firefighters to the East County Wednesday amid a very long, difficult day of battling raging wildfires in the North County.

Officials said this latest blaze sparked at Olde Highway 80 and Aurora Drive at around 5:10 p.m. near Lakeside. Aerial shots of the fire showed heavy flames engulfing a hillside between Rattlesnake Mountain and Lake Jennings Park Road.

As of 10 p.m., the blaze had burned about 17 acres. Firefighters said they had the fire under control, but would remain on scene at least through midnight monitoring hot spots and potential flare-up zones.

The evacuation notice for the Lakeside Fire near Aurora Drive and I-8 Business has also been lifted and a temporary evacuation site at El Capitan High School was now closed.

The AlertSanDiego message initially went out to more than 1,300 phone numbers, county officials said.

• Read: 600-Acre Fire Threatens Homes in Bonsall, Fallbrook Area

Officials said more than 1,350 homes and businesses had received reverse 911 calls urging residents to evacuate to a safe location Wednesday afternoon. This included evacuation calls to residents in the Wintergardens area, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. About 200 of those residents were evacuated from their mobile homes.

Lakeside resident Gina Dinwiddie was among the evacuees. She lost power in her mobile home and, soon enough, heard helicopters and fire engines in her neighborhood. Minutes later, a deputy ordered her to evacuate her home.

As she walked outside, she saw the fire creeping up a nearby hillside. She didn't have much time to react.

“I was concerned. We have valuables – we didn’t have time to pack up or anything,” said Dinwiddie. “I was really scared. I didn’t know what I would lose, you know?”

Heartland Fire & Rescue said some structures were threatened by the fire, as the flames inched toward homes. However, as of 7 p.m., no homes had been damaged and no injuries had been reported.

Olde Highway 80, also known as Business Interstate 8, was temporarily closed between Las Coches Road and Main Street as crews continued to work through the evening.

At 7:45 p.m., the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said evacuated residents were now being allowed to return to their homes. The temporary evacuation site at El Capital High School was also being closed for the day.

• Read: Poinsettia Fire Burns Homes in Carlsbad

The Lakeside Unified School District announced schools would be closed Thursday due to the fires. Likewise, many schools across the county are closed. For a full list of school closures, click here.

No further details were immediately available. Check back for updates.

Click here for a map of the wildfires burning across San Diego County.

NBC Primetime is moving to COZI-TV. COZI-TV can be found on COX Cable at 807, Time Warner Cable at 253 and Over the Air at 39.2. Also, "Days of Our Lives" will air on NBC 7 at 3 a.m.
 

Due to the ongoing wildfires around San Diego County, officials have canceled classes on Friday, May 16, in the following school districts:

Click here for a map of wildfire activity and open shelters 

• Bonsall Union
• Cardiff School District
• Carlsbad Unified
• Del Mar Union School District
• Encinitas Union School District
• Escondido Union Elementary
• Escondido Union High
• Fallbrook Union Elementary
• Fallbrook Union High
• Oceanside Unified
• Old Mission Montessori Catholic School, Oceanside
• Pacific View Charter School, Oceanside
• Poway Unified
• Rancho Santa Fe School District
• Saint Mary's, Escondido
• San Dieguito Union High School District
• San Marcos Unified
• Solana Beach School District
• San Pasqual Union
• St. Mary's in Escondido
• Valley Center- Pauma Unified
• Vallecitos Valley Center-Pauma Unified
• Vista Unified

All classes at Cal State University, San Marcos are cancelled through Friday. Also, commencent ceremonies, which had been scheduled for Friday and Saturday, have been canceled as well. There is no word yet on when, or if, commencement will be rescheduled.

AP tests scheduled for Friday at the Del Mar Fairgrounds have also been postponed until further notice.

UC San Diego campus is not in immediate danger and remains open. Classes will continue as scheduled.

San Diego State University is not in immediate danger and remains open. Commencement ceremonies are planned for the weekend.

To help support families, three YMCA branches on Friday will provide free child care to the general public and first responders for kids ages 5 and up. The Mission Valley, Toby Wells and Copley-Price branches will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and officials recommend you call to make sure the child care centers are not full.

Officials advised Oceanside residents near the San Luis Rey River to shelter in place as crews battled a 100-acre brush fire.

The City of Oceanside was moving at a moderate rate of spread as of 8:30 a.m., city officials said. 

The fire was confined to the riverbed and firefighters were on scene working to contain the damage.

Flames sparked in the riverbed just east of College Boulevard at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

• Fire Evacuates Oceanside Hotel

Dry brush and heavy vegetation pushed the flames to the north and south sides of the river, growing to 100 acres. 

Oceanside officers went door to door and used a PA system to ask residents inside 100 homes to voluntarily evacuate along Andrew Jackson Street, Stallion Drive, Tyler Road and Leon Street.

All those evaucations have since been lifted. 

The Oceanside Unified School District closed schools Thursday.

Lost in the shuffle of the massive evacuations due to fires burning throughout the San Diego area this week are the fates of pets and other animals.

Fortunately, some area shelters are reaching out to lend a helping hand.

Lisa Wilhoit McCormick, owner of Fido & Co. Canine Country Club in Hillcrest, is offering free boarding and pet assistance to anyone affected by the fires.

“Clearly, if you have to evacuate, you’re not going to get a crate, not going to get food,” she said. “We’re so glad to help.”

She said they haven’t taken in any animals displaced by the fires, but they have been getting donations of food, blankets, crates and other pet supplies over the past two days and wants to help pet owners for as long as it takes.

"Definitely through the weekend,” she said. “I’m not sure how crazy it’s going to be in terms of people dropping off, how much help they will need.”

Residents can call Fido & Co. at (619) 295-9663 for assistance.

North County residents who have evacuated with large animals can take them to Cloverdale Ranch in Escondido or call the County Department of Animal Services emergency line at (619) 236-2341. Warner Ranch in Pala and Oceanside Ivy Ranch have closed after receiving no animals.

For those with bigger animals, County Sheriff Bill Gore said Border Patrol has resources to help any in danger.

“They have the ability to, if we need to evacuate larger animals, they have horse trailers available,” he said.

The San Diego Humane Society is offering a help line for pets and livestock at (619) 299-0871.

PETA also offers some tips for displaced pets. The organization says owners should know their destination ahead of time, if possible, and find out if it will accommodate animals. The group also suggests owners keep a week’s worth of food, as well as bowls, toys and blankets to keep pets comfortable.

Animals should never be left unsupervised in cars, as temperatures can rise quickly, causing them to panic.

As wildfires ripped through San Diego County amid hot, dry, red flag warning conditions, local fire crews, law enforcement, leaders and residents united in the fight against the fires.

Nine fires scorched more than 9,000 acres Wednesday, primarily in the North County. Flames erupted in Carlsbad, San Marcos, Camp Pendleton, Fallbrook and Oceanside, among the impacted communities, threatening homes and forcing residents to evacuate.

Many of those fires continued to burn Thursday.

• Click Here: Map of Wildfire Activity and Open Shelters

Cocos Fire – San Marcos
Of those still burning, the Cocos Fire in San Marcos continued to pose problems and keep evacuations in place Thursday as it burned dangerously close to homes.

The blaze has scorched at least 1,000 acres so far, prompting mandatory evacuations for Cal State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and the areas of Harmony Grove, Questhaven, Elfin Forest and parts of neighboring unincorporated areas.

One CSUSM student said she had just finished taking her final and was turning in her books Wednesday when she spotted smoke near the campus. Shortly after that, she said students were evacuated.

“A lot of the students were concerned about their finals,” she said.

The fire caused CSUSM to postpone commencement ceremonies for Thursday and Friday.

“All the plans for graduation have been canceled,” the student added.

• Read: New Homes Threatened in San Marcos Fire

The Cocos Fire continued to burn in Elfin Forest and Harmony Grove Thursday with little containment.
Officials said the Cocos Fire remained Cal Fire’s top priority, as it continued to threaten homes.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler said crews were pushing to keep the fire out of Harmony Grove, “with an emphasis on structure protection, structure defense and perimeter control.”

“We have six airplanes on this fire now, with numerous helicopters. They were here at first light,” said Schuler. “We have the resources we need for this fire.”

“Overnight, we made some good progress,” said San Marcos Fire Department Chief Brett Van Wey.

An evacuation shelter was established at Mission Hills High School located at 1 Mission Hills Court.

• Read: Complete List of School Closures

“It’s a crisis. We have to shift from education to taking care of folks. So that’s what we’re going to do,” said Mission Hills High School principal Courtney Goode. “Tests can be made up and what not but lives are being heavily impacted right now so that needs to be our focus.”

Several road closures remained in place Thursday as crews continued to hone in on the blaze.

Residents in the Harmony Grove area have experienced destructive wildfires in the past.

On Oct. 21, 1996, the Harmony Grove Fire ravaged the area in southeast Carlsbad, destroying 54 homes.

In that incident, shifting winds drove the fire across the southeastern boundary of the city and into residential neighborhoods of La Costa. According to City of Carlsbad records, the fire left $11.8 billion worth of damage in its wake. Four firefighters and two residents were injured. One of those residents died from severe burns sustained as he tried to evacuate his home.

Poinsettia Fire -- Carlsbad (renamed the "San Diego Complex" fire)
In Carlsbad, the Poinsettia Fire – which sparked on El Camino Real and Poinsettia Lane – tore through 400 acres, destroying 22 homes in its path. This included a condo complex with 18 units and four single-family homes. The fire damage was estimated at $22.5 million and counting.

The county issued 15,000 evacuation notices to homes, cell phones and businesses threatened by the Poinsettia Fire. This includes residents west of El Fuerte Road, south of Palomar Airport Road, north of Aviara Parkway and west to the coast.

As smoke billowed through neighborhoods, a group of three Good Samaritans ran door-to-door trying to make sure residents got out safely.

“I grew up in this area. I knew I needed to do something to help the people living around here,” one man told NBC 7.

“I saw a woman in complete hysteria. We went into her home and got her daughter and dogs out. Her backyard was engulfed in flames,” said another Good Samaritan.

“My friend has two little brothers who live by the church and I just wanted to make sure they were safe – that everyone was safe,” added the third helper in the trio.

• Photos: May Firestorm in San Diego

A Carlsbad couple forced to evacuate described the moments they saw plumes of smoke taking over their street. They knew they had to move quickly.

“I opened up the drapes and the smoke is coming down the hill. We packed a bag, family pictures, got our cat and got out,” said the husband.

“We lived through 2007 fires in Rancho Bernardo. I’m confident that they’ll get this. Hopefully no lives and homes will be lost,” said his wife. “We’re packing a bag. We can replace everything in the house. Hopefully everyone is okay.”

As of Thursday morning, the blaze was approximately 60 percent contained, with 300 firefighters remaining on the fire line. Many evacuees were allowed to return home, though some road closures remained in place. Officials asked residents to limit their driving as much as possible in order to keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles.

Natalie Emons returned to her home, which was spared in the fire, but was awestruck by how much vegetation the fire had burned in her neighborhood.

“This is such a beautiful canyon and now it’s just – it’s so surreal. I could never imagine looking at this devastation. We were really, really lucky. Our neighborhood was very fortunate,” said Emons.

A man who lost his Carlsbad home in the wildfire said he was lucky to be alive and would soon rebuild, adding that all he could do, at this point, was move forward.

Meanwhile, the Carlsbad Police Department established a Tip Hotline for the Poinsettia Fire at (760) 602-7599. Anyone with information regarding the origin of the fire or suspicious activity or persons who may be involved with the starting of the fires were asked to call the tip line.
 

Highway Fire – Fallbrook and Bonsall
Fallbrook resident Sam Curreri was ordered to evacuate his home as crews battled the 500-acre “Highway Fire” off Interstate 15 and State Route 76, near Old Highway 395 and White Lilac. He grabbed his dog and left his home behind.

“You’ve got mementos in there, pictures, clothes. I may only walk out with what I’ve got here. I hope not, but it might be that way,” he told NBC 7.

As he drove away from his neighborhood, deputies in the area called out, “We’re all in this together.”
Another Fallbrook couple followed Curreri down the road. They were confident firefighters would get a handle on the Highway Fire.

“We have a lot of help here,” said one resident. “It doesn’t worry me.”

• Read: Area Shelters Pitch in to Help Evacuated Pets

Later that night, Fallbrook resident Robert Hankins echoed that sentiment, saying that fire crews appeared to be winning the battle.

“They know what they’re doing. There’s a science to it now,” said Hankins.

Hankins said police officers had also stormed his neighborhood and were helping residents. Hankins said he saw an officer go into a home on the fire line and get an elderly evacuee’s medicines before that resident left the area.

As of Thursday morning, the Highway Fire had burned approximately 500 acres and continued to be a top priority for Cal Fire crews. It was about 40 percent contained as of 9 a.m. and no homes had been destroyed or damaged.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike White said the Highway Fire had spread rapidly on Wednesday and was at the mercy of Santa Ana winds. These winds caused what appeared to be a cluster of “fire tornadoes” or “fire whirls.” One of those whirls reached a height of 1,000 feet.

“Fire whirls are typically caused by rapid vertical movement of heated air and battling winds,” White explained.


Tomahawk Fire – Camp Pendleton
In the Camp Pendleton area, the Tomahawk Fire burned 6,000 acres and was 20 percent contained as of Thursday. This blaze started at Naval Weapons Station – Fallbrook and led to an evacuation order for nearly 900 residents on base, including those living in the De Luz housing area where the fire damaged 40 power lines and caused ongoing outages.

No structures were destroyed. Officials said 10 aircraft crews would tackle the fire Thursday, and 12 additional crews were requested.

Riverbed Fire – Oceanside
The riverbed fire in Oceanside had burned about 100 acres as of 10 p.m. Wednesday. Though it was mainly contained to the riverbed, 40 to 50 homes were evacuated in the area. Residents were allowed to return home shortly thereafter.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Joe Ward said crews worked through Wednesday evening building a dozer line stop the fire from spreading further down the riverbed.

• Read: Latest Fire Information

The task was challenging, Ward said, for a variety of reasons, including limited resources and rough terrain filled with trees that stood in the way. The bulldozer broke down halfway through the process,
making it all even more difficult.

Still, Ward said firefighters were able to gain control.

“Crews out here have been working hard, without any breaks, and with limited resources,” said Ward.
The battalion chief said more resources were requested to continue fighting this fire Thursday. Two or three homes were damaged in the blaze.

Support from County, Leaders
County officials said nearly 350 wildfire evacuees stayed at three shelters overnight, including 100 people at two shelters in Carlsbad and 241 at San Marcos shelter. In many cases, The Red Cross helped the displaced at evacuation centers and shelters.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer sent out a memo Wednesday to city employees thanking first responders and local agencies for their “unified effort to battle these fires.”

“We are all in this together,” wrote Faulconer. “And together we will persevere no matter what challenges Mother Nature throws our way.”

• Read: Businesses Open Hearts, Wallets Amid Fires

San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said 120 deputies have been stationed in San Marcos alone to protect the vacated properties. He advised residents to follow the directions of firefighters and stay out of the area as long as requested.

“We are watching your neighborhoods,” Gore said.

In all, the San Diego wildfires have consumed or damaged more than a dozen structures and caused tens of millions of dollars in damage. Though the timing and proximity of the fires has fueled speculation that arson could be involved, officials said it would be premature to comment on a cause of the fires in the early stages of the investigation.

Officials noted that current weather conditions could cause even a small spark to ignite a massive brush fire.

For updates on these wildfires by the numbers, click here.

She’s turning 90 this weekend, and her party promises to give her guests wild ride.

There will be one hour of free stomach-lurching thrills on Saturday for anyone who wants to wish the Giant Dipper a happy birthday, as the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk's iconic roller coaster -- California's oldest -- celebrates a time when coasters cost $50,000 to build and 15 cents a ride.

"It's an unforgettable ride," said Will Pemble of Orinda, also known as the "Coaster Dad." His son, 11-year-old Lyle, also said he thinks the wooden coaster is "fun" and he likes the "old-time ride," even though it's a little "wobbly."

Still, the roller coaster "isn't that tall and isn't that fast" in the sixth grader's eyes, as Lyle noted that "most amusement parks would have torn down an old ride like that."

• Coaster Dad Gives Stick Bomb a Roller Coaster Ride

The coaster is indeed old.

It's California’s oldest, designed by Frank Prior and Frederick Church and built in 1924 by Arthur Looff, according to Boardwalk history.

When it opened on May 17 that year, the Santa Cruz Sentinel ran a full-page black-and-white ad for the ride, promising a “wonderful kick from start to finish.” In 1987, the Giant Dipper was designated a National Historic Landmark.

The coaster is billed as the 5th oldest in the country and the 9th oldest in the world. The oldest is in Altoona, Pennsylvania, built in 1902.

An ad in 1924 announcing opening day of the Giant Dipper. Source Santa Cruz Boardwalk Archives.

Since opening day, 60 million people have coasted down the half-mile track, which stands 70 feet tall, and is the iconic visual image seen across the beachside city of Santa Cruz.

Among those riders have been famous actors like Michelle Pfeiffer when she filmed “Dangerous Minds,” Vincent Price when he made a horror documentary in 1978 called “America Screams” and basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain, who took a spin in 1968.

Wilt Chamberlain rides the Giant Dipper at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in 1968. Source Santa Cruz Boardwalk Archives.

“It’s definitely our signature ride,” said park spokeswoman Brigid Fuller. “Everyone loves the Dipper. It’s beautiful. And that sound of the clickety-clack is so great. It’s a pretty special ride.”

In honor of the coaster's birthday, the park is offering free Giant Dipper rides on Saturday for one hour from 10 a.m to 11 a.m., which Fuller said is something the boardwalk has never done before. The Boardwalk kicks off its summer season on that day too, with a Drum Corp presentation and a free beach concert.

Fun Facts About the Dipper:

• The Giant Dipper was built in just 47 days at a cost of $50,000.
• The fare was 15 cents in 1924; today it is $6.
• Record day was June 27, 1987, with 13,729 riders.
• When the Dipper received a fresh coat of paint last fall, painters used over 4500 gallons of paint and primer to cover an estimated 327,000 board feet of lumber.
• The 2013 project cost nearly $300,000, six times the original cost to build the ride in 1924.

(Source: Beach Boardwalk)

Residents in northern and western portions of Escondido were ordered to take refuge from the erratic Cocos Fire on Thursday, as the blaze that's destroying homes in the Coronado Hills community of San Marcos marched eastward also.

Those people living west of West Valley Parkway between Via Rancho Parkway and Highway 78 are being directed to go to either Escondido High School, at 1535 N. Broadway in Escondido, or Mission Hills High School, at 1 Mission Hills Ct. in San Marcos.

• READ: Cocos Fire Destroys Homes in San Marcos

The Rancho Santa Fe Fire District posted an alert to Twitter advising residents on Mount Israel and Del Dio Highway to evacuate. The area is south of Olivenhain Reservoir and east of Lake Hodges.

CHP and Caltrans are advising that they are closing Del Dios Highway from Via Rancho Parkway to Rancho Drive just west of Escondido so that nearby evacuees can move out of the area.

• Click for Escondido Evacuation Map

Evacuations began around 1:30 p.m. Thursday as the Cocos Fire exploded in growth moving from San Marcos to the east.

Along the 3000-block of Hill Valley Road south of State Route 78, an NBC News Crew watched as firefighters were working structure protection on the ground and a military helicopter dropped water on spot fires that were popping up.

Flames shot into the air near very large, very expensive homes tucked between trees in the area and smoke was getting thicker as winds blow to the east and to the south.

Several miles away, Jim Buchanan owns a home on an acre of land near Country Club Drive and Kauana Loa Drive. He said early Thursday he and his neighbors thought fire crews had the Cocos Fire beat.

Then, when Buchanan went to check on a neighbor’s property, he realized the fire had spread to the bottom of the hill near his home.

“Jeepers! About three hours ago. Boom, boom, boom -- three big black columns of smoke,” Buchanan said.

With hose in hand and bandana hanging around his neck, Buchanan lamented the number of trees on his property.

“I thought I had all summer to prune,” he said. “Who’d have thought? This is May. I mean, doesn’t the fire know the rules?”

He thinks two homes along the street are gone.

• Watch: Propane Tanks Burst in Fire

Officials said Palomar Medical Center West will shelter in place. Staffers say they are working closely with the county, police and fire officials.

Refresh this page for updates on this story.

Groundwater pumping amid California’s historic drought may be affecting earthquakes along the San Andreas fault, according to a new study.

The pumping, which has been going on for decades in the usually fertile San Joaquin Valley, is now leading to an increase in temblors in the area, according to the study published in science journal Nature.

"As the valley is going down, you are unclamping the San Andreas fault,” said Dr. Susan Hough of the U.S. Geological Survey. "When you take out the water, it’s the weight of the water that is affecting the crust and the faults.”

• Running Dry: Drought Maps, Timeline

The study spearheaded by Western Washington University suggests that while the Central Valley is sinking, while the mountain ranges that surround it, including the coastal range and the Sierra Nevada, are climbing upward.

Hough said adding water to a fault zone can also alter an earthquake fault.

"If a big reservoir in particular is filled up, that can sometimes induce earthquakes, and we've seen some quite damaging earthquakes as a result of reservoirs being filled,” Hough said.

Altogether though, Hough said that while groundwater pumping and reservoirs may cause temblors to happen more quickly than normal, chances are the quakes were going to happen at some point anyway.

"An earthquake that is induced is going to happen anyway. If you hasten it a little bit, maybe it will happen in September instead of January, but it’s not really a game changer,” Hough said.

San Diego businesses opened their hearts and their wallets to help those affected by the May Firestorm.

Sunland RV Resorts is offering free nights to San Diego fire evacuees at their parks in Escondido, La Mesa and El Cajon to those with an RV and on a first-come, first-served basis.

“This is a difficult situation all around San Diego County, and Sunland RV Resorts would like to do what we can by offering a free place to stay for those evacuated,” stated Greg Sidoroff, Vice President of Operations.

While domestic animals are welcome, Sunland RV Resorts cannot accommodate other animals, including livestock. Reservations are not required.

They're not the only business stepping up to help out in San Diego's time of need.

In another effort to house evacuees, AirBNB -- a lodging rental website -- has created a website on which people offer up their homes for free or can find a no-cost place to stay.

The YMCA announced Thursday it will be offering free and emergency child care to families first-come, first-serve basis in response to a number of chool closures .

Luna Grill is delivering food to responders and any shelters in the area. Call the company's catering line (855) 835-5862.

Also, those in uniform who stop by any open Luna Grill in the areas affected by the fires will get a free meal. The company has locations in Carlsbad, Carmel Valley, Scripps Ranch and Poway.

For those affected by school closures, the Mingei Museum was free to all SD county residents today.

The San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park will also offer free admission and extra programs and activities for children.

The hair salon Dearinger on Market Street was offering free cuts and color Thursday and Friday for anyone affected by the fires. Call 619-239-5400 for information.

Dogs on Deployment are offering their database for military (active or retired) members to find boarders for pet owners who have been displaced by the fire.

A possible arson suspect was detained by the Escondido Police Department Thursday, officials confirmed.

The man was detained after a report of “suspicious behavior,” but was released by police shortly after questioning.

“No arrest. Detained only for report of suspicious behavior. But no reason to arrest or think the person was involved in an arson," said Lt. Neal Griffin.

"A suspect was detained but it was determined there was no connection between him and the fire," Escondido officials added in a short statement released Thursday just before 4 p.m.

After nine separate fires sparked in different locations and times around the county, questions are being raised about what caused the brush fires that burned more than 9,000 acres around San Diego County.

Authorities ask that civilians report any suspicious behavior in connection with the fires to Crime Stoppers at (619) 235-8477.

Lee Swanson with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department released the following statement:

"All investigating agencies are working collaboratively in determining the origin and cause of the many fires throughout San Diego County. Anyone with any information regarding the fires is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers. The caller may remain anonymous and a reward may be offered if the information leads to a conviction."
 

After settling into an Oceanside hotel, some wildfire evacuees are being forced to relocate again.

A fire started around 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Comfort Inn in the 800 block of North Coast Highway. It started after cigarette butts were left on an outdoor deck, according to Oceanside Fire Battalion Chief Felipe Rodriguez.

Eighty-seven adults and 22 kids were evacuated. Most of them had been forced from their homes amid a rash of wildfires in San Diego County.

Shawn Young was staying at the Comfort Inn after the Tomahawk Fire threatened base housing on Camp Pendleton.

“The next thing you know, we wake up in the morning with a fire alarm going off,” Young said. “Now we’re getting evacuated from our hotel because it’s on fire.”

“I thought it was a drill,” he said.

Although the fire was extinguished in just minutes, the second and third floors sustained such bad water damage that hotel guests had to pack up and leave.

Carlsbad resident Kathy Rutledge tried to stay positive as she loaded her cat Oliver into the car, preparing to evacuate for the second time in less than 24 hours.

“There’s a silver lining in every cloud,” Rutledge said.