Windy Ridge Fire - Orange County: Anaheim Hills Fire

From LAFD Blog

LAFD Resources Sent to Anaheim Hills Fire

Pursuant of a formal Mutual Aid Request, the Los Angeles Fire Department has assigned one Strike Team of Firefighters as an on-site resource available to the Orange County Fire Authority in their battle against a wind-driven wildfire near Highway 241 and the 91 Freeway in Anaheim Hills, California southeast of our City.

These twenty-two members of the Los Angeles Fire Department have been dispatched to the wildfire in accordance with California's Fire & Rescue Emergency Mutual Aid System, administered by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. The system is designed to ensure that additional resources are provided to local jurisdictions whenever their own resources are committed or insufficient for a specific emergency incident.

The City of Los Angeles remains fully protected by the use of additional staff and reserve apparatus to cover foreseeable local needs, and we remind local residents that these resources can be recalled to our City as necessary.

The men and women of the LAFD ask motorists to remain watchful for these and other convoys of emergency apparatus, and to be mindful of the space necessary for them to safely maneuver on local roads and highways.

Pursuant of protocol, all public and media information regarding this incident, including the actions of assigned LAFD personnel, will be provided by the Orange County Fire Authority, which maintains daily jurisdictional authority of the area where the fire is burning.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey
Los Angeles Fire Department

Re: Windy Ridge Fire - Orange CountyAt 14:05 Ops requested the IC to order 10 type-1 strike teams and 15
type-3 strike teams, plus some dozers etc. Ops replied that "it'll be a
long, long time til they get here," to which Ops replied "we're gonna be
here a long, long time."


UPDATE FROM KCAL / CBS

500-Acre Fire Forces Evacuation Of O.C. Homes

Firefighters were trying to control a vegetation fire that posed a threat to structures in the Orange and Anaheim Hills area, authorities said Sunday.
Link to CBS story here

CBS (AP) ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif. A fast-moving brush fire has already scorched 500 acres of parched hillside Sunday about a half-mile from a housing development in Orange County and burned two structures, authorities said.

The fire forced the evacuation of, at least, 100 homes in the Orange and Anaheim Hills area, a fire captain said.

So far, the blaze has not threatened any buildings but 35 mph winds are keeping firefighters watchful.

Orange County fire officials say the unincorporated area where the fire is burning is bounded by Anaheim Hills and the city of Orange.

About 30 fire units are on the scene and 30 more are on their way.

Orange County Fire Authority spokesman Steven Miller said the good news is that most homes in the area, located near Santiago Oaks Regional Park, are constructed with noncombustible roofs.

Like much of Southern California, the area is under a red flag alert, indicating a high fire danger.

The fire may have been started by a vehicle fire on the southbound 241 Windy Ridge Toll Plaza.

FOX Noise:

ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif. — Authorities evacuated more than 200 homes as a fast-moving brush fire scorched more than 500 acres of parched hillside Sunday and crept into backyards, Orange County fire officials said.

The fire, stoked by hot dry winds and fueled by dry chaparral, quickly doubled in size in an unincorporated part of Orange County and threatened homes here and in Anaheim Hills. Police were going door to door to warn residents to evacuate, said Anaheim city spokesman John J. Nicoletti.

"There is a lot of fire personnel out there and they are doing the best they can, but the weather is not in their favor," said Lynnette Round, an Orange County Fire Authority spokeswoman.

At least one home in Anaheim's Hidden Canyon neighborhood was on fire and many others immediately threatened, Nicoletti said.

Authorities believed the blaze began with a vehicle fire, Round said. More than 200 firefighters were on the scene, but winds as high as 35 mph were complicating firefighting efforts, authorities said.

Fox News headline - Unusual fire in Orange County, CA spreads at rapid rate, sparks evacuation. Editor is wondering what FOX finds unusual about a fire in California?