An Orange County Fire Authority helicopter drops a load of water on a brush fire in Silverado Canyon in Orange County, Calif. on Sept. 12, 2014.SANTA ANA, Calif. – Hundreds of firefighters battled both flames and triple-digit temperatures Saturday as they sought to contain a wildfire that forced people to flee about 30 homes near Southern California’s Cleveland National Forest.
The fire, which burned through about 2 ½ square miles of dry canyon brush, was only about 10 percent contained Saturday, said Deanne Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Emergency Operations Center.
Meanwhile, both heat and smoke advisories were in effect for the area, with temperatures forecast to reach as high as 105 degrees between Saturday and Tuesday.
On Friday, officials ordered the evacuation of about 30 homes in the area. None were reported burned, and authorities said it was just a precaution, but residents remained out of their homes on Saturday.
More than 700 firefighters, aided by six helicopters and five fixed-wing aircraft, were battling the blaze, which was first reported Friday morning. It was expected to continue to grow before it is contained, although no additional structures were immediately threatened.