Firefighters Battling Brushfire in Silverado Canyon; Evacuations Ordered

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Originally posted at 11:36 a.m. Sept. 12, 2014. Updated with new details.

Amid forecasts of record heat, a wildfire erupted in heavy brush in the Cleveland National Forest today, and despite light winds, the flames rapidly tore through thick fuels and spread across more than 1,000 acres.

The fire broke out about 10:30 a.m. in the 30500 block of Silverado Canyon Road, fire officials said.

The blaze was initially reported at about 15 acres, burning in Silverado Canyon near the Orange/Riverside County border. By late afternoon, the flames had spread to 1,300 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service, which was leading the firefight.

The fire is burning in a largely remote area, although some homes dot the canyon, but fire officials said no structures were immediately threatened. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued at 6 p.m. for residents living from 30500 Silverado Canyon Road east to the end of the canyon, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Some residents had already been voluntarily evacuating from the area.

The American Red Cross set up an evacuation center at El Modena High School, 3920 E. Spring St., in Orange.

A large plume of smoke could be seen for miles. Winds were generally light, with the fire being driven primarily by the thick vegetation.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for portions of Orange and Riverside counties due to the blaze. The areas “directly” affected by the smoke, according to the agency, include Saddleback and Capistrano valleys of Orange County and the Corona, Norco and Lake Elsinore areas of Riverside County.

Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said the agency sent four planes to the scene, including air tankers to drop retardant on the flames.

Tauhir Jones, U.S. Forest Service spokesman for the Cleveland National Forest, said the USFS had sent 10 engines, two water-dropping helicopters, one helitanker, one hand crew and two water tenders to the scene.

A pair of DC-10 retardant-dropping planes were also aiding in the firefighting effort.

A stretch of Silverado Canyon Road was closed in the area, but it reopened by mid-afternoon for residents as the flames moved deeper into the canyon.

--City News Service

PHOTO Credit Dr. Dr. James Asch