Fires raging in San Diego County in southern California affected money managers in the area. Nicholas-Applegate Capital Management, San Diego, was open for business today, but employees were told to stay home if necessary, said Sue Hunter, spokeswoman. Most city schools and businesses are closed, she said. All supervisors contacted their employees to be sure they were all right. Smoke and ash were everywhere, and people in the building could smell smoke, Ms. Hunter said.
At Brandes Investment Partners, 75% of employees came to work today, said Victor Therrien, director of the institutional group. The San Diego firm is located about five to seven miles away from the fire, "making the air quality really bad. Even though we've had a really good turnout, we're encouraging our staff to be where they're most needed." The firm was considering closing at 3 p.m. so employees could drive home during daylight. Also, a number of employees out of town at conferences last week have been stranded because many flights to San Diego International Airport were canceled.
