Orange County

Winds push fires; thousands flee

THE SILVERADO CANYON fire has reached 7,200 acres in the Irvine area on Monday (OCFA image).

This is a developing story. Check back with The Tribune for updates, as well as OCFA’s Twitter postings.

UPDATE: High winds dying down. In the Blue Ridge Fire in Yorba Linda, 1,651 homes are under evacuation orders or voluntary evacuation. One home has been reported damaged.

The 241 Freeway is closed from the 91 (Riverside Freeway on the north to the Oso Parkway on the southeast and the Santa Ana (5) Freeway to the south. Update as of 8:30 p.m.

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UPDATE: The Blue Ridge Fire in Yorba Linda has scorched 1,120 acres; many YL homes have been evacuated, according to authorities. The blaze is reported to be moving northwest toward Bobcat Ridge.

The City of Irvine has issued an immediate evacuation order for all residences between Great Park and Bakes and north of Toledo to the city limits, due to the Silverado Fire.

All classes are cancelled for the Irvine Unified School District. All classes in the Placentia-Yorba Linda District on Tuesday, Oct. 27 have been cancelled with the intent of returning on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

The Silverado Fire is reported to have burned 7200 acres and is zero percent contained, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Five hundred firefighters are on the scene. The Blue Ridge Fire is also zero percent contained. Two hundred firefighters are there. Update as of 6:30 p.m.

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UPDATE: Tustin and Foothill Ranch are now involved in threats from the Silverado and Blue Ridge fires.

  • Mandatory evacuations for zones 1,2,3,9 in the Baker Ranch area of Lake Forest. A care and reception area is being set up at El Toro High School.
  • There’s an evacuation warning for zones 4, 5,7,8 in Foothill Ranch. It’s not mandatory.
  • The City of Tustin is requesting voluntary evacuations due to the Silverado Fire in the area of Pioneer Road and Jamboree Road, north of Portola to include Tustin Ranch Estates, Emerson Homes, Peters Canyon, Barcelona Homes and any other homes in the area. Update as of 4 p.m.

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UPDATE: New fires have been confirmed in Yorba Linda on east side of that city, northeast of Bryant Ranch Park and in the area of Euclid Street and Country Hills in Fullerton.

Also, two “handcrew” members of the OCFA have been critically injured fighting the Silverado Fire. One of them suffered second and third degree burns on 65 percent of the firefighter’s body; the other sustained second and third degree burns on 50 percent of skin.

The Blue Ridge Fire In Yorba Linda has burned an estimated 700-plus acres. Multiple structures along Evening Breeze Drive and neighboring streets are considered endangered. Update as of 3 p.m.

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Whipped by cold, high winds, brushfires have broken out in several areas of Orange County, including the City of Irvine.

At mid-day, at least 20,000 people have evacuated the area; another 40,000 are under evacuation orders, as winds of 20 to 25 miles an hour – with gusts up to 70 miles an hour – are spreading the flames.

People in the northwest area of Lake Forest and Baker Ranch area advised to be ready and may be evacuated.

According to the Orange County Fire Authority, the Silverado Canyon fire has spread to 4,000 acres and is “zero percent” contained as of 1 p.m. today (Monday). Five hundred firefighting personnel are on the scene.

In Irvine, the area under evacuation is generally the northeast third of the city. Evacuation centers have been set up at Harvard Community Center, Village Church of Irvine, Turtle Rock Community Center and Los Olivos Community Center. The Quail Hill Community Center is reported to be full.

Road closures include Portola from Route 241 to Jamboree Road, the 241 from the 133 to Santiago Canyon Road, from Cooks Corner to the 241, according to the OCFA.

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