Wildfire in California's Cleveland National Forest Grows Rapidly; Mandatory Evacuations Ordered

A brushfire in Southern California’s Cleveland National Forest in Orange County exploded in size on Friday, growing from 300 to 1,300 acres in just a few hours on Friday, according to KTLA 5. The Silverado Fire started in the backyard of a home in rural Silverado Canyon around 11 a.m. on Friday and quickly tore through the area’s drought-parched vegetation.

Temperatures in the mid-90s were fueling the flames as they swept over the scenic, mountainous terrain, the Los Angeles Times reports. 

By Friday night, the Orange County Sheriff's Department issued a mandatory evacuation for about 30 homes in Silverado Canyon. 

Plumes of smoke from the massive blaze were visible as far away as Los Angeles County, according to KTLA 5.

Nearly 300 firefighters were attempting to tackle the fire on the ground in what InciWeb called an “aggressive initial attack.” At least three helicopters and two air tankers were also assisting in trying to gain control of the blaze, KTLA 5 reports. According to the O.C. Register, firefighters have been hampered by steep terrain and oppressive heat, with the high on Saturday expected to hit 102.

In a news release from the Orange County Emergency Operations Center, officials said that no structures are threatened but that several roads were closed to make way for emergency personnel. The O.C. register reports that on Friday afternoon, the fire was traveling up the canyon walls and away from about 40 homes on the canyon floor. Crews were attempting to isolate the blaze along the ridgeline, but had additional crews in place to protect homes at the bottom of the canyon if the flames changed direction, according to the L.A. Times. 

Earlier on Friday, officials have recommended that around 70 people evacuate the area and many residents already voluntarily left the area.

“A neighbor called and said, ‘Have you seen the fire? … Look outside your house,’ and it was right behind the house,” a resident told KTLA 5. “We immediately just grabbed ourselves, our passports and few valuables and ran.”

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Cleveland National Forest sprawls over the rugged peaks of the Santa Ana Mountains straddling the Orange and Riverside county line southeast of Los Angeles.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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