Overnight rains saturated hillsides in Silverado Canyon Wednesday, prompting a mudslide that trapped some vehicles and led authorities to issue a mandatory evacuation order for the Bond Fire area.
No injuries were reported from the slide, which occurred at about 7 a.m., sending thick mud cascading onto Silverado Canyon Road between roughly Ladd Canyon Road and Olive Drive.
Orange County Fire Authority firefighters were called at 7:09 regarding the mudslide, which trapped four residents at Grundy and Anderson Ways, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Thanh Nguyen said. Mud flowed into six or seven homes, and three cars were pushed about 50 feet by a mud flow off of Anderson Way, he added.
“There were no injuries, which we’re very glad about, but right now we’re standing by for this evening when we expect another significant amount of rain from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.,” Nguyen said. “We’re leaving extra crews out here.”
Silverado Canyon Road was closed between the 241 Toll Road and Modjeska Grade Road as crews descended on the area with bulldozers and other equipment to clear the muck from the roadway. The mud made it difficult for residents to evacuate, Nguyen said.
The OCFA sent bulldozers to the area, but found skiploaders were more effective to navigate the narrow roadways in the canyons, Nguyen said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department issued a mandatory evacuation order late Wednesday morning for residents in Modjeska and Williams canyons as well. Those evacuations are in place through 8 a.m. Thursday, when authorities will reevaluate the need for them, Nguyen said.
According to the National Weather Service, more than a half-inch of rain fell over a roughly three-hour period in the area, which was the location of December’s Bond Fire that burned more than 6,600 acres.
“Public works is out there working with the (Orange County Fire Authority) to remove the debris, and that’s going to take at least a couple of hours to make the roads passable,” Carrie Braun of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said at about 10:30 a.m. “There are also some mudslides on private property so we’re looking into reports of that.”
The American Red Cross set up shop at El Modena High School, 3920 E. Spring St., to help residents find safe shelter.
A hotline for residents in Silverado, Williams and Modjeska canyons has been set up at 714-628-7085. Those with disabilities who need help evacuating should call sheriff’s deputies at 714-647-7000, and those who need help relocating pets or large animals should call Orange County Animal Care at 714-935-6848.