Day 3: Silverado Canyon Fire Downgraded to 968 Acres

Day three of the Silverado Fire in eastern Orange County ended with the size of the blaze being downgraded from 1,600 acres to 968 acres, and with fire lines now scratched out around 50 percent of the flames.

The Sunday evening assessment from the Cleveland National Forest is based on having more firefighters on the ground to better measure the scope of the fire, Orange County Fire Authority spokesman Bob Poole said.

No significant winds were spreading the fire throughout the day, but steep slopes and heavy old brush continued to aid its spread, firefighters said.

Firefighting efforts have been assisted by helicopters making nighttime drops, which is new for the National Forest Service. The agency came under heavy fire for refusing to use new infrared vision equipment in aircraft in the early hours of the disastrous Station Fire near Mt. Wilson in 2009.

A total of 1,438 men and women were working on the fire temperatures around 100 degrees and very dry air, Poole said.

Three firefighters had minor heat-related injuries on Friday, but none were reported Saturday or Sunday, Poole said.

No cause has been listed for the fire, which broke out at about 10:30 a.m. Friday in the 30500 block of Silverado Canyon Road, east of Irvine and west of the Orange-Riverside county line.

The fire is blackening a largely remote area on the western flanks of Santiago Peak, south of Corona. The fire was still no threat to any cross- mountain routes, firefighters said.

Mandatory evacuation orders for residents living east of 30311 Silverado Canyon Road has been lifted as of Sunday evening, Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Hallock said. The road remains closed to non-residents, he said.

Residents should be prepared to present law enforcement with identification and proof of residence when accessing affected areas, Hallock said.

--City News Service

PHOTO Credit: Dr. James Asch