Orange County authorities issued several mandatory and voluntary evacuations on Thursday after a wind-driven brush fire in Silverado Canyon burned 6,400 acres. The fire was downsized from 7,200 acres after fire officials conducted a more accurate mapping of the blaze on Thursday evening.
The fire is 10% contained.
Mandatory evacuations have been issued for the Modjeska, Silverado and Williams Canyon areas, Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills west of El Toro and north of the 241 Toll Road.
Voluntary evacuations were issued for the following areas:
-- Lake Forest, from the 241 Toll Road, along Bake Parkway to Musick and north to the border with Irvine and from the 241 Toll Road north to Bake Parkway to Foothill Ranch Community Ranch;
-- Borrego Canyon;
-- Baker Ranch;
-- Portola Hills;
-- Live Oak Canyon;
-- Trabuco Canyon;
-- Rose Canyon;
-- Valley Vista Way;
-- Meadow Ridge Drive.
While officials have asked residents to stay with family, friends or in a hotel, a Red Cross evacuation point has been opened at El Toro High School at 25255 Toledo Way in Lake Forest.
“Due to COVID-19, no congregate shelter is offered,'' the authority tweeted about 5:20 a.m. “A temporary OC Red Cross evacuation point is at 8405 E. Chapman Ave, Orange. Info and restrooms available.''
Those residents with small pets can drop them at the Orange County Animal Care at the Tustin Facility at 1630 Victory Road.
The fire was sparked late Wednesday night in the 29400 block of Silverado Canyon Drive at around 10:15 p.m. About 500 firefighters are currently on scene. The OCFA is working with the U.S. Forest Service in the fight against the Bond Fire.
Inland Orange County is under a red-flag warning through 10 p.m. Saturday due to high winds and low relative humidity.
The OC Fire Authority says forward progress of the fire was stopped after it hit the burn scar from the Silverado fire from October. However, the fire has begun burning in two other directions in vegetation that has burned in the Silverado Canyon in 15 years.
Ground crews were initially assisted by fire helicopters and a helitanker, but those were grounded as of Thursday morning due to the high winds in the area. At around 11:30 am, winds died down enough for air support to begin assisting in the fight against the blaze.
Authorities have established a public information hotline (714) 628-7085 that residents can call for information on resources available to them. Residents in the area are being advised to follow @OCFA_PIO on Twitter for more updates.
A public safety map with evacuation orders and warnings is currently available here: https://bit.ly/2Vy231m.
Santiago Canyon Road from Jackson Ranch Road to the Eastern Transportation (241 Toll Road) Corridor has also been temporarily closed due to the Bond Fire. Irvine and Anaheim officials say that while the fire is visible to residents in the area, it was moving away from them and there was no immediate threat to the city.
According to the Orange County Fire Authority, two firefighters have suffered unspecified injuries while fighting the blaze. The two firefighters have been treated by paramedics and taken to a local hospital.
No other details were immediately available.
Photo: Getty Images