Holy Fire: Smoke Surges From Santiago Peak: LIVE

TRABUCO CANYON, CA — A column of smoke rose from Santiago Peak once again in a flare up of the Holy Fire, authorities have said. Communication towers might be threatened by the new blaze.

Watch LIVE as helicopters battle the blaze, above.

The flare up was "well inside the burned area," officials from the Cleveland National Forest Service reported, though smoke was visible throughout the area at approximately 10:30 a.m. Monday morning. An hour later, the new blaze had "slopped outside of containment lines" and grown to 40 acres, according to the fForest Service.

The nearly 23,000-acre Holy Fire that has been burning for three weeks in the Cleveland National Forest but was largely surrounded flared up again Monday, scorching about 40 acres and threatening communication towers on Santiago Peak.

The flames erupted shortly after 9 a.m., fire officials said. Fire officials initially said the flare-up occurred within previously established containment lines, but the flames managed to cross that line by late Monday morning.

Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Tony Bommarito said five air tankers and four helicopters were assigned to the flare-up.

"Their objective will be to protect communication towers, but there are no residential structures threatened," Bommarito said.

The Holy Fire, which broke out in the Holy Jim Canyon area on Aug. 6, had been largely contained as of Sunday, although small spots were continuing to smolder along the rim of the burn zone.

Prior to the Monday flare-up, the fire had burned an estimated 22,986 acres in Orange and Riverside counties, and it damaged or destroyed 24 structures, officials said.

Though flames could be seen by tower web cameras, and smoke could be seen from across Orange County and into Riverside County, there was no pressing danger according to authorities.

"The fire is currently no threat because it is burning in brush that is surrounded by already burned vegetation," a Cleveland National Forest Service spokesperson told Patch.

Crews were enroute, including air support, according to officials.

The Holy Fire remains 100% contained.

Some new activity is occurring around the #HolyFire. This will be very visible from surrounding communities. Resources have been dispatched and are responding with cooperators. Please refer questions to the Trabuco Ranger District 951-736-1811 pic.twitter.com/fgRz2uMAOa
— Cleveland NF (@ClevelandNF) August 27, 2018

Cleveland National Forest Service Photo