Anaheim Fire: 9,200+ Acres, 59 Structures Burn In Canyon Fire 2

ANAHEIM HILLS, CA — Much of the smoke has cleared, and the majority of residents who were evacuated in Anaheim, Tustin and City of Orange were allowed to return home Tuesday evening. To date 9,200 acres have burned and the fire is 65-percent contained as of Friday. Don't be surprised if you see fire crews, police and public works in neighborhoods, as that is all part of the post evacuation process, according to the Anaheim Fire Department.

"Progress on the fire continues, but we expect hot dry weather this weekend," Anaheim Fire Department Capt. Daron Wyatt said. "A fire weather watch has been issued."

Cooler weather and a returning marine layer will help firefighters in their efforts in the coming days. A total of 23 structures have been destroyed and 36 have been damaged.

There are no new threats to neighborhoods at this time, but residents should remain vigilant and monitor the situation in case things change, Wyatt warned. Incident reports state that 1,000 structures remain threatened by the fire burning off State Route 91 in the Coal Canyon area.

Full containment was expected by the weekend, but that date has been pushed back to early next week, according to Anaheim Fire Department. The Canyon Fire 2 is currently under unified command of Anaheim Fire Department and Rescue, City of Orange Fire Department, Cal Fire, Orange County Fire Authority and associated fire agencies who are assisting with the efforts.

OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi cautioned Wednesday that the exact figures on the number of structures destroyed and damaged were "fluctuating."

Concialdi also urged residents to drive carefully in the affected areas, where more than 1,455 firefighters were deployed in the mopping up effort. There are 176 engines working the fire from the joint agencies of Anaheim Fire and Rescue, Orange City Fire, Orange County Fire Authority and Cal Fire.

Schools in the Anaheim, Tustin and Orange area were expected to be reopened on Thursday.

All evacuations were lifted from the Canyon Fire 2 as of Wednesday at 5 p.m. The road closures still in effect Wednesday night included Santa Ana Canyon Road between Woodcreek and Gypsum Canyon roads in Anaheim, fire authorities said.

All roads that were closed due to the fire have reopened, except for Windes Drive north of Santiago Canyon Road (Santiago Oaks Park, City of Orange) and Santa Ana Canyon Road between Woodcrest Road and Gypsum Canyon Road (City of Anaheim).

Some firefighters were expected to be de-mobilized Wednesday, and full containment was expected on Saturday, Concialdi said.

A solid containment line has been created along the eastern edge of communities near the 241 Toll Road, and those communities are no longer threatened. In all, 13 homes were destroyed by the blaze Monday, with another 21 residences scorched by the fire, as well as two out buildings that were also destroyed.

"If you feel unsafe or find damage at your home, it is best to find shelter somewhere else. Residents can call (714) 765-4333 to ask for a property assessment by Anaheim Public Works. Please be patient, properties will be assessed during regular business hours," Capt. Daron Wyatt of the Anaheim Fire Department said. "A few returning residents will come home to find the power out. Should power be out at your house, you can call (714) 765-3300 for an update. Operators will be on hand 24 hours. As always, for any emergency call 911."

"Those returning to destroyed homes will find TIP Volunteers (@AnaheimFire partners) on hand to help deal with the loss of their home," Wyatt said.

A family from Orange Park Acres returned home with their dog.

"We've had close calls, but this was the first time we've evacuated. We took some pictures and papers, the kids and we left," one resident said. "We're so glad to be home."

They received emergency alerts, based upon AlertOC updates to their phones.

"We tried to help people get their horses out," one resident said. The horses are returning to their homes as well.

Anaheim Fire Department released reports that since the wildfire began on Monday, at least 14 structures have been destroyed and 22 more have burned while even more were threatened as a "fast-moving" brush fire ripped through the Anaheim Hills area, scorching more than 7,500 acres.

The column of thick, dark smoke has shrouded Orange County for more than 24 hours. Much of that has dissipated by Tuesday afternoon, leaving skies hazy but with the ever-present rotor blades of attack helicopters and sirens of emergency vehicles working the blaze. The Canyon Fire 2 continues to rip through the vegetation as it pushes to the east into the Cleveland National Forest.

Click on the map above for the latest closures and routes as they open or are closed to through traffic.

The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, according to Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Larry Kurtz.

"We have to understand what couldn't have caused the fire, as well as what could have. Fire investigators are looking at all possibilities as to what could have started it. We will most likely not have those answers today."

Read: Anaheim Fire: Left-Behind Kitties Retrieved With Help From Firefighters

The list of non-emergency information lines open for residents in need of information:

• Anaheim, (714) 765-4333
• Irvine, (949) 724-7000
• Orange County Sheriff's Department, (714) 628-7085
• Orange, (714) 744-7495
• Tustin, (714) 628-7085

More than 1,100 firefighters are on the ground battling, and three helicopters made water drops overnight, according to Anaheim Fire Department Capt. Darren Wyatt. In the air, 14 helicopters and 6 fixed wing planes are attacking the fire, which is the largest to hit Orange County since the Freeway Complex fire of 2008.

Watch: Southern California Wildfire Remains Active

All area schools are expected to be open Thursday.

One person was confirmed as injured during the fire, due to smoke inhalation that occurred while battling the first home that caught fire from the Canyon Fire 2 event.

California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in Orange County on Monday for fire that has damaged critical infrastructure, threatened homes and caused the evacuation of residents. The California Department of Education will also assist schools to ensure they do lose funding due to Average Daily Attendance requirements.

The fire known as the "Canyon Fire 2" was a sequel even more devastating than the first Canyon Fire, which burned east into Riverside County in late September. More than 5,000 residents were displaced by the blaze and that number rose significantly throughout Monday and into Tuesday, and 7,500 acres were eaten by fire. The Santa Ana-driven winds caused flareups that put 5,000 area homes in jeopardy in Anaheim Hills, Orange and Tustin.

Smoke blanketed Orange County as far as the coast as the blaze burned through wildland and neighborhoods south of the 91 Freeway.

Animals, including a large number of horses, have been evacuated. All animals from the Irvine Orange County Zoo were evacuated before the fire reached that area, according to a release from Orange County Parks. Those animals were reported to have returned to the zoo on Tuesday afternoon. Many horses have also returned, however a large stable in the area of Oak Park Acres was reported to have burned.

Smoke from the blaze could be seen for miles in all directions, prompting warnings from health officials for people to remain indoors.

Initially reported around 9:30 a.m. Monday, the fire continues to burn in the 91 vicinity, crossing the 241 freeways and fueled by 25 mph and gusting winds. As of 5 p.m., Wyatt said 200 firefighters are battling the blaze on the ground, while 10 helicopters and 12 fixed wing aircraft are either on scene or ordered to battle the blaze from the air.

"Lots of resources from across the state are dedicated to fighting the fire," Wyatt said. "Priority remains life safety."

Firefighters went door to door, evacuating residents from impacted areas on Monday, Wyatt said. As winds howled through the area, numerous structures have burned and some are total losses, according to Wyatt. One firefighter sustained non-life threatening injuries but is expected to recover, Wyatt said.

"We asked people a few weeks ago with the last Canyon Fire to be prepared, and if you feel you need to evacuate and are not part of the evacuation area, feel free to do so," he said.

Watch: Wildfires Destroy More Than 1,500 Homes And Buildings In California

• Deadly Northern California Wildfires: 15 Dead; Thousands Of Structures Lost; 87K Without Power

The City of Orange issued evacuations for residents north of Santiago Canyon Road to the Anaheim city border. A non-emergency hotline was established for the City of Orange at 714-744-7550.

• No, Disneyland Is NOT Closing For Canyon Fire 2, Resort Says

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for homes east of Serrano and north of Nohl Ranch Road south of the 91 Freeway, according to the Anaheim Fire Department. "Residents who live south of Walnut Canyon Reservoir should be prepared to evacuate," Wyatt said.

Yorba Regional Park is closed, as are Orange Park Acres and Irvine and Santiago Oaks Regional Parks, according to reports. The city of Orange issued new evacuation orders for the Santiago Hills area, between roughly Chapman and Canyon View avenues, stretching from Jamboree Road to Newport Boulevard.

Orange County Fair Grounds confirmed that large animals can be evacuated there, Wyatt said.

Smoke has created low visibility, and those who are driving in the area or evacuating should be cautious. Check your routes before you hit the road, as closures are changing rapidly.

Watch: Evacuations Ordered As Wildfires Burn Through Calif. Wine Country

Evacuations:

• There are no evacuations at this time.

"If you are home, leave now," Wyatt said. "For your safety, access to this area is not allowed at this time."

Evacuation Centers:

• Horses and large animals can be evacuated to the west end of Yorba Regional Park; Horses were also welcomed at the Los Alamitos Race Track: Call: 714-820-2660

Waking miles down the highway to escape. We are now @losalracing I can't explain in words how good the people & volunteers are pic.twitter.com/ijqpkLqakX
— Teresa A. Del (@horseychickstar) October" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/horseychic... 10, 2017

Units from multiple agencies, including CalFire and Orange County Fire Authority, are on the scene and battling the blaze from the air and ground.

Disneyland did not close, though the sky was eerie with smoke. A red-flag warning in the Santa Ana mountains and foothills had Orange County Fire Authority has expired, however officials remain on high alert, according to OCFA Captain Larry Kurtz, who stressed that this fire is not part of the original Canyon Fire, which burned more than 2,500 acres and damaged several homes in the same vicinity in late September.

The current fire was initially reported as smoke sighted just before 8:45 a.m., according to California Highway Patrol, but the initial report was dismissed as "smoke with no flames," CHP officers said. More smoke was reported just before 9:30 a.m., and investigating officers saw flames on the opposite side of the hill.

As of this report, it is unclear what caused the blaze.

Main Photo: Going home, an eerie lunar landscape awaited residents. Amy Spurgeon Hoffman photo.

A large plume of smoke from a brush fire rises over the city of Orange, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. A wildfire has erupted about 45 miles (72 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles in the hill country of eastern Orange County. The Anaheim Fire Department said the fire erupted late Monday morning. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Smoke from the blaze as seen from Anaheim Stadium, Chris Gianini via Instagram ; Smoke seen from Disneyland on Monday morning. Credit: Lindsay Nuttall / Other photos: Amy spurgeon Hoffman, OCFA