400 Trabuco Canyon Trees Downed in Snow Storm

Up to 400 large trees fell underneath as much as six inches of snow and strong winds that swept through the Cleveland National Forest today and handcrews had to clear Trabuco Creek Road for an assessment of the damage.

Firefighters were called in about 1 p.m. as the drought-damaged trees -- some of them up to 60 feet tall and 36 inches in diameter -- either fell under the weight of the snow and or the lashing by high winds.

Some of the trees -- mostly Oaks and some Sycamores -- either fell down entirely or suffered large limbs falling off them, said Capt. Steve Concialdi of the Orange County Fire Authority.

Some of the trees and tree branches fell on cabins in the Holy Jim and Upper Trabuco Canyon area, he said.

Concialdi said there are about 45 cabins in the area, some of them occupied full time and some of them seasonal. Residents were unable to get in or out until the Orange County Fire Authority’s 22-member handcrew cleared away Trabuco Creek Road, a dirt road.

The road was impassable for residents either wanting to come out or go in.

Staff from the Cleveland National Forest will have to begin an assessment to determine how best to deal with the damage, Concialdi said.