Posted October 24, 2007, 6:12 AM.

The Interstate 15 freeway is reportedly open between Temecula and Escondido Wednesday morning. It has been alternating between open and closed due to the Rice Canyon Fire. Interstate 5 in the Camp Pendleton is closed Wednesday morning.

The Poomacha Fire, which began in the Pauma Valley south of Mount Palomar in San Diego County, has reportedly merged with part of the Witch Fire after crossing SR-76 overnight. The 76 is closed in both directions in the area. Acreage for the fire has not been updated at this hour.

The other front of the Poomacha Fire has been moving up Palomar Mountain. The latest report says seven or eight homes have been lost.

Mandatory evacuations have been issued for Birch Hill near Mount Palomar overnight.

Flames from the Poomacha Fire could be clearly seen from the Temecula Valley as they were working their way west across the backside of Agua Tibia Mountain towards Pala Tuesday night.

A glow from the Rice Canyon Fire in Fallbrook and Rainbow was also visibile from the Temecula Valley Tuesday night over the southwestern hills. A mandatory evacuation of part of the De Luz area was ordered overnight and the fire, which was in the Rainbow Glen area near Red Mountain last night, is close to crossing the Santa Margarita River into Riverside County.

Evacuees from De Luz were been advised to go north on Sandia Creek or De Luz Roads.

A blaze in Camp Pendleton called the Horno blaze was near Las Pulgas Road and headed to the Orange County line, and had burned 6,000 acres in the area overnight.

We do not have any new information on the Roca fire in eastern De Luz yet this morning. It was at 411 acres and 70% containment yesterday evening, with full containment expected Wednesday.

Some pictures of the Rice Canyon, Rosa and Poomacha Fires have been received and are awaiting our time to process and post them. If you have taken pictures, please submit them here.

A good resource for the San Diego County fires is the Sign-On San Diego Blog.