NEWS
RELEASE
Orange County Fire Authority
Captain Stephen Milller/PIO
1 Fire Authority Rd.
Irvine, CA 92602
(714) 573-6201
(714) 368-8828 fax
May 7, 2007
Subject: Vegetation Fire on 91 Freeway
Contact: CAPTAIN STEPHEN J. MILLER, (714) 573-6201
The OCFA responded to a vegetation fire on May 7 at 2:10 p.m. at the 91 Freeway at Coal Canyon Road. Driven by hot, dry winds, the fire spread in a westerly direction parallel to the Santa Ana River. As of 5 p.m., the fire had burned 120 acres.
No homes are currently being threatened, but a mobile home park near Gypsum Canyon Road was evacuated. On scene fighting the fire are 47 engines, five helicopters, three air tankers, two dozers, and three water tenders.
Assisting the OCFA on this incident are the California Department of Forestry, Anaheim Fire Department, Brea Fire Department, Santa Ana Fire Department, Orange Fire Department, Fountain Valley Fire Department, Newport Beach Fire Department, Huntington Beach Fire Department Garden Grove Fire Department, Fullerton Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, Cal-Trans, Brea Police Department, County Harbor Beaches and Parks and County Animal Care Services.
A red flag warning (high temperatures, low humidity) is in effect until 7 p.m. tonight.
The fire was ruled accidental and was caused by a CalTrans Road Crew installing metal fencing along the 91 Freeway at Coal Canyon Road. The crews were using a power cutting tool that produced sparks, which ignited the nearby grass.
CalTrans crews took every possible measure to try and stop the fire before it spread. However, because of strong winds and dry vegetation, they were unable to stop the fire from spreading.
The Orange County Fire Authority is a joint powers authority that serves more than 1.3 million residents in 22 cities and the unincorporated areas of the county.