LOS ANGELES – Two wildfires that spread rapidly resulted in the evacuation of 92,000 homes in two towns in upscale neighborhoods in Orange County, Southern California, according to fire officials said Monday
More than 500 firefighters came out in force to fight the blazes that quickly blackened more than 7,200 acres after they erupted in the Silverado Canyon area, the Orange County Fire Authority said As a precaution, residents of 22,000 houses were evacuated
Two members of a fire team suffered severe burns while fighting the fires, OCFA said The two, aged 26 and 32, suffered second and third degree burns to at least half of their bodies
« They are seriously injured Their families are with them, » said OCFA fire chief Brian Fennessy « We give them all the support we can »
As if that weren’t enough, the Blue Ridge fire broke out in the afternoon in Chino Hills, above the Yorba Linda neighborhoods, burning 1,100 acres and leading to evacuations of 70,000 homes Yorba Linda is home to the Richard M Nixon National Library and Museum, but there are no reports of immediate threats,
At first, it appeared that the Silverado Fire could be contained in thick brush in less populated areas near Irvine, an upscale town south of Los Angeles and north of San Diego when firefighters arrived at the scene around 6:45 am PST, it was only 10 acres
But the flames were fanned by winds blowing at a constant speed of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts of up to 70 mph Later in the morning, the OCFA said the blaze had exploded on a major artery that had served as a natural firebreak, Highway 241, and threatened neighborhoods in the region, causing evacuations
Fire « Danger »: Strong winds, dry air and low humidity combine to create a « dangerous weather event » for California through Tuesday
Kelsey Brewer and her three roommates decided to leave their house before the evacuation order arrived The question was where to go in the pandemic They chose the house of his girlfriend’s mother, who has plenty of space and lives alone
« We literally talked about it this morning, » said Brewer « There’s nowhere you can go to feel safe »
Flames jumped 241 #SilveradoFire About 60,000 people evacuate from Irvine area Check your evacuation location here: https: // tco / gAGlMlPUL2 picTwittercom / RhVJu7g0us
Southern California firefighters were preparing for the onslaught of Santa Ana winds and are accompanied by low humidity, said Jim Mathews, meteorologist with the Sacramento National Weather Service
Nearby fires roar: two largest wildfires in Colorado history burn at the same time, 10 miles apart
The desert-like conditions were expected to be « uncomfortably similar » to the circumstances that led to other destructive fires, including the Kincade fire in 2019, the campfire in 2018, and the wildfires. wine country of 2017, said Mathews « It’s our inclement season right now: fire time »
It wasn’t just southern California The « extreme » fire weather also had northern California, hundreds of miles away, in its grip Some areas were deemed « critical » Fortunately The initial fires were relatively small: Four new wildfires burned more than 300 acres on Sunday afternoon in Shasta County, but firefighters appeared to gain the upper hand on Monday
Pacific Gas and Electric Company had cut power to thousands of homes as a precaution before the dangerous conditions, which are expected to continue early on Tuesday PG&E said in a statement that up to 361,000 customers in 36 counties and 17 tribal communities could experience disruption
Elsewhere in the west, a damage assessment was underway near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, where the troublesome eastern blaze burned more than 300 square miles Firefighters received fire ‘help this weekend due to cold and snow
More: Two biggest wildfires in Colorado history burn at the same time, 10 miles apart
Irvine Fire, Silverado Fire, Orange County Fire, Irvine Fire today, Irvine, Santiago Canyon Fire, Irvine Evacuation
News from around the world – United States – Two firefighters badly burned in two forest fires in California Orange County rapid evacuation of 92,000 homes
