FIRE NEAR IRVINE LAKE (CA) GROWS TO 150 ACRES

07/13/2015

A vegetation fire that grew to burn more than 150 acres Monday morning, threatened some structures near Irvine Lake and caused officials to close down Santiago Canyon Road in an unincorporated county area during the firefighting efforts, reports ocregister.com (http://bit.ly/1UVW6Vj)

Orange County Fire Authority officials were battling the fire around 11 a.m. near the 241 toll road entrance to Santiago Canyon Road.

The fire which started on one side of Santiago Canyon Road, jumped the road, OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi said.

At 1:20 p.m., the fire grew to 150 acres with the potential to grow to 500, Concialdi said.

Numerous firefighters and helicopter support working to contain the flames, which continued to more than an hour later near Loma Ridge.

California Highway Patrol officials, with the assistance from the Orange County Sheriffâ€™s Department deputies, closed down Santiago Canyon Road near the 241 toll road entrance.

Two structures near Irvine Lake were destroyed early Monday afternoon and another 15 structures were threatened near the Santiago Canyon Landfill and the lake which has been evacuated along with the campgrounds, Concialdi said.

Fire officials used five helicopters and three air tankers in hopes of containing the fire that afternoon among very dry conditions in the area, Concialdi said.