Silverado Fire: Blaze Near Irvine Grows To More Than 12,000 Acres; Containment At 5%

This story is no longer being updated. Follow our coverage of the Silverado Fire for Wednesday, Oct. 28 >>

This post was late updated at 6 p.m.

Follow these official sources for latest updates after-hours:

• Orange County Fire Authority Twitter page
• City of Irvine Evacuation page

The Silverado Fire continues to burn a day after it erupted, quickly spreading in the hills near Irvine, prompting more than 75,000 people to evacuate and critically injuring two firefighters.

The two firefighters were burned over at least half their bodies and were intubated Monday. Orange County Fire Chief Brian Fennesy described them as "gravely injured."

Three other firefighters have sustained minor injuries.

The fire started at 6:47 a.m. in the area of Santiago Canyon Road and Silverado Canyon Road, according to a post from the city of Irvine.

The area has been under a red flag warning through at least 6 p.m. today because of strong, dry Santa Ana winds.

At 4 p.m., the O.C. Fire Authority said they were continuing air operations to douse the flames with fire retardant, giving crews a chance "completely extinguish the fire," tweeting that firefighters would "continue to battle the flames throghout the night."

THE BASICS

• Acreage: 12,600
• Containment: 5%
• Structures threatened: 70,000 homes in Irvine and8000 homes in Lake Forest are in evacuation zones
• Structures destroyed: None
• Resources deployed: 750+ firefighters

BACKGROUND

The area that's burning last burned in the Santiago Fire back in 2007.

That fire consumed 28,000 acres and destroyed 42 structures. Fuel is lighter this time around because of the previous fire, but there are far more homes threatened as developments have expanded.

CAUSE

Nothing is confirmed yet, but Southern California Edison has notified the state that it's power line may have sparked the fire.

The report says "it appears that a lashing wire that was attached to an underbuilt telecommunication line may have contact SCE’s overhead primary conductor which may have resulted in the ignition of the fire."

An internal investigation at SCE is ongoing, according to the report.

EVACUATIONS

Note: Some areas of Irvine are now being re-populated. Find details via this map.

Mandatory:

• All residences from Irvine Boulevard south to Trabuco Road and from Jeffrey Road east to Portola High School
• Communities in the city of Lake Forest, Baker Ranch and Foothill Ranch
• Residents in Modjeska Canyon

Check the Orange County Emergency Public Information Map to see if you may be in an evacuation zone.

Warnings:

• Residents in Mission Viejo should be prepared to evacuate:
  • El Toro Road to the north
  • Marguerite Parkway to the east
  • Upper Oso Reservoir to the east
  • Los Alisos Boulevard to the south
• Silverado, Modjeska, Trabuco canyons along Live Oak Canyon

SCHOOL CLOSURES

All schools in the Irvine Unified and Tustin Unified school districts are closed today, according to Irvine city officials. Families were urged to monitor their phones and emails for updates and visit iusd.org and tustin.k12.ca.us for more information.

EVACUATION CENTERS

*For the most up-to-date information on evacuations, the Orange County Sheriff's Department website has an emergency map.

• University High School: 4771 Campus Dr
• Woodbridge High School: 2 Meadowbrook
• Las Lomas Community Center: 10 Federation Way
• Turtle Rock Community Center: 1 Sunnyhill, 92603
• University Community Center: 1 Beech Tree Lane
• Quail Hill Community Center: 35 Shady Canyon Dr
• Los Olivos Community Center: 101 Alfonso
• Harvard Community Center: 14701 Harvard
• Rancho Senior Center: 3 Ethel Coplen Way
• Newport Coast Community Center: 6401 San Joaquin Hills Rd., Newport Beach, CA 92657
• Village Church of Irvine at 77 Post

Note: Officials say the evacuation centers allow pets, but residents also have the option of dropping off their pets at Irvine Animal Care Center.

ROAD CLOSURES

• SR 241 from Santiago to the 133
• Northbound/Southbound Interstate 5 connector to northbound 133
• Northbound 133 between the 5 and 241
• Northbound 133 connector to northbound 241
• Southbound 133 between the 241 and 5
• Portolla from 241 to Jamboree
• Northbound 241 fully closed from Oso Pkwy to SR 91
• Southbound 241 between SR-91 and Lake Forest Drive
• Northbound 261 between Irvine Boulevard and 241/Santiago Canyon Road
• Southbound 261 between 241/Santiago Canyon Rd and Irvine Blvd
• Santiago Canyon Road from Cooks to the 241
• Irvine Boulevard from Alton to Sand Canyon
• All roadways north of Irvine Boulevard remain closed
• Great Park Boulevard east of Sand Canyon

In addition, the Southern Open Space Preserve, which includes Bommer Canyon, Quail Hill, and Shady Canyon trails, is closed.

HOW DOES THIS IMPACT VOTING?

Four ballot drop boxes in Orange County have been closed, as they happen to be inside the evacuation zones for both the Silverado and Blue Ridge Fires.

Officals say voters should utilize alternate options for returning their ballots.

All ballots in the affected drop boxes have been retrieved and secured by Registrar of Voters’ Ballot Collection Teams under escort by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

You can find updated ballot dropbox info here.

HOW WE’RE REPORTING ON THIS

This is a developing story. We fact-check everything and rely only on information from credible sources (think fire, police, government officials and reporters on the ground). Sometimes, however, we make mistakes and/or initial reports turn out to be wrong. In all cases, we strive to bring you the most accurate information in real time and will update this story as new information becomes available.

FIRE RESOURCES

• Red Flag Warnings Issued. Why You Should Be Ready To Evacuate
• Every Day Is Fire Season. Here's How Angelenos Can Prepare Right Now
• How To Find Out About Fire Evacuations In Your Area
• How To Keep Yourself Safe From Wildfire Smoke
• The Air Is Brown — Should I Wear A Mask?
• This Is Why Fire Officials Don't Want You To Stay And Defend Your Home
• What Does 'Containment' Of A Fire Mean, Exactly?
• What Does A 'Red Flag Warning' Mean, Exactly?
• What To Do — And Not Do — When You Get Home After A Wildfire
• How To Avoid Getting Towed During LA's Red Flag Parking Restrictions
• If You Want To Help Fire Victims, Resist The Urge To Volunteer

YOUR QUESTIONS OR IDEAS

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