Dramatic Photos of Orange County Brush Fire off I-5

Orange County, CA -- UPDATE: 5:45 p.m.

The Orange County Fire Association is getting the upper hand on a brush fire that broke out this afternoon near
Saddleback Church in San Juan Capistrano. As of 5:30 p.m., the wildfire has blackened approximately 30 acres. 

Around 135 firefighters are battling the blaze from the ground and air, according to Orange County Fire Authority Captain Larry Kurtz.

More on this story as it develops.

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Original Story: 

A 10-acre brush fire is burning through Orange County’s San Juan Capistrano area near Saddleback Church, Wednesday.

"The good news is we don't have a lot of wind driving this fire,'' he said.   The blaze is "slope-driven,'' meaning its progress is shaped by the topography, according to Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Larry Kurtz, who said the hills in the area were slowing down the flames.

Air support for Orange County brush fire battles blaze (credit Orange County Fire Authority).The blaze started just after 2 p.m. on Camino Capistrano just off of the Golden Lantern and the Saddleback Church near the Santa Ana I-5 Freeway, Kurtz said.

By 3 p.m., the fire had burned through 6 acres, and at 4 p.m., the totals are 10-acres burned, with the fire still active.

Acres burned in a recent brush fire near San Juan Capistrano (Orange County Fire Authority photo)According to Kurtz’s initial reports, there have been no immediate reports of injuries, but the flames threatened some structures in the area, Kurtz said. There is no word as to the cause of the blaze. 

About 90 firefighters are currently battling the blaze from the ground and the air with helicopters, Kurtz said. 

As of 4:15 p.m. the brush fire has burned through 10 acres of wildland.

"Structures are threatened, but fire has not made any runs at the buildings yet,” Kurtz stated. “So far there no buildings have been damaged or destroyed, there are no injuries and no mandatory evacuations.”

As of 4:15 p.m. the column of smoke could be seen from I-5. 

Patch.com will follow this story with any updates as information is distributed.