Bond Fire: 6,686 Acres Scorched, 85% Contained, All Roads Reopen

MISSION VIEJO, CA — The Bond Fire is now 85 percent contained, helping residents breathe a collective sigh of relief across inland Orange County. The fire scorched 6,686 acres and has destroyed 31 buildings since it began. The blaze started when a house in Silverado Canyon caught fire amid Santa Ana winds one week ago.

All evacuation warnings have been lifted as of Tuesday night. All roads tare reopened, much to the delight of Peltzer Pines customers. Many have waited for family Christmas tree traditions at the tree farm in the heart of Silverado Canyon. Peltzer Pines was just one area business spared from the fast-moving Bond Fire due to fire crews' hard work and effort in the air and on the ground.

Read: Pelzter Pines Reopens As Bond Fire Travel Restrictions Canceled

"Today, gusty winds prevailed over the fire area. Firefighters worked to construct and improve the fireline, and patrol the fireline area," according to a spokesperson for incident command said late Tuesday. "Firelines continue to hold, and crews will patrol overnight in areas where strong winds could have the potential to spread the fire and threaten adjacent communities."

The National Weather Service's red-flag warning for extreme fire danger expired late Tuesday. The fire's size was revised Tuesday morning to 6,686 acres, down from 7,375 acres, "due to more accurate mapping," officials said.

According to Cal Fire and the Orange County Fire Authority, nearly 1,000 personnel remain assigned to the blaze, along with ten helicopters, three water tenders, and seven dozers.
The wind-whipped blaze started just before 10:15 p.m. last Wednesday in the 29400 block of Silverado Canyon Drive.

All evacuation orders were previously lifted, and Tuesday night, all evacuation warnings and road closures were canceled. Fire officials warned the public to prepare for intermittent and extended road closures in the next few days as crews repair infrastructure.

A local Christmas tree farm, Peltzer Pines in Silverado Canyon was set to reopen on Wednesday, following being shuttered due to the blaze. Those who had pre-purchased their trees were able to have them cut and hauled to the Brea location for pickup, but many residents chose to wait until the tree farm reopened.

"We reopen at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday and return to our regular scheduled hours on Thursday," a spokesperson for Peltzer Pines told Patch.

The evacuation center at El Modena High School in Orange remained open, according to fire officials.

Animal evacuation centers were set up at the Anaheim Equestrian Centre and the Orange County Fair & Event Center.

Read also: Pelzter Pines Reopens As Bond Fire Travel Restrictions Canceled