The Blue Ridge and Silverado wildfires that damaged homes in Yorba Linda and Irvine and caused thousands of residents to evacuate were both 88% contained Monday as nearly 1,100 firefighters mop up hot spots and work to extend containment lines of cleared vegetation.
The two fires started Oct. 26 within a half hour, first the Blue Ridge Fire at 2:32 p.m. north of the Riverside (91) Freeway in Yorba Linda then the Silverado Fire at 3:03 p.m. off the Foothill Transportation Corridor (241) in the Irvine area.
The Blue Ridge Fire has burned 13,694 acres, destroyed one structure and damaged 10, according to CalFire. The Silverado Fire has burned 12,466 acres, destroyed five structures and damaged nine.
Two firefighters were in critical condition at last report after suffering second-and third-degree burns in the Silverado Fire, which was driven by powerful Santa Ana winds.
Nearly 300 firefighters were assigned to the Blue Ridge Fire and they worked Sunday patrolling the burn area and putting out hot spots along the perimeter while reinforcing fire lines, CalFire said in an update.
The 784 firefighters assigned to the Silverado Fire did the same, as well as repairing the land from last week’s battle.
The Foothill Transportation Corridor remained closed northbound from Alton Parkway to the Eastern Transportation Corridor (261). The southbound Foothill Transportation Corridor remained closed from Laguna Canyon Road (133) to Alton Parkway. Laguna Canyon Road northbound was closed from the Santa Ana (5) Freeway to the Foothill Transportation Corridor, CalFire said.