Silverado Canyon fire spreads to 1,200 acres

A large smoke cloud from a brush fire in the Silverado Canyon area of Orange County, which is in the Cleveland National Forest, has been visible from Southwest Riverside County and North San Diego County since early Friday morning, September 12.

Amid forecasts of record heat, a wildfire erupted in heavy brush in the Cleveland National Forest today, and despite light winds, the flames rapidly tore through thick fuels and spread across more than 1,000 acres.

The fire broke out about 10:30 a.m. in the 30500 block of Silverado Canyon Road, fire officials said. The blaze was initially reported at about 15 acres, burning in Silverado Canyon near the Orange/Riverside County border. By mid afternoon, the flames had spread to 1,200 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service, which was leading the firefight.

The fire is burning in a largely remote area, although some homes dot the canyon, but fire officials said no structures were immediately threatened. Some residents were voluntarily evacuating from the area.

The American Red Cross set up an evacuation center at El Modena High School, 3920 E. Spring St., in Orange.

A large plume of smoke could be seen for miles. Winds were generally light, with the fire being driven primarily by the thick vegetation. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for portions of Orange and Riverside counties due to the blaze. The areas "directly'' affected by the smoke, according to the agency, include Saddleback and Capistrano valleys of Orange County and the Corona, Norco and Lake Elsinore areas of Riverside County.

OCFA spokesman Steve Concialdi said the agency sent four planes to the scene, including air tankers to drop retardant on the flames.

Tauhir Jones, U.S. Forest Service spokesman for the Cleveland National Forest, said the USFS had sent 10 engines, two water-dropping helicopters, one helitanker, one hand crew and two water tenders to the scene.

A stretch of Silverado Canyon Road was closed in the area, but it reopened by mid-afternoon for residents as the flames moved deeper into the canyon.

The Valley News will update this page as more information becomes available.