According to fire officials at least three Orange County homes burned today as flames as high as 75 feet engulfed the ridges above Modjeska Canyon. The canyon was too narrow and the heat and flames too intense for firefighters to try to save 330 homes, officials said.
Erratic winds gusting up to 60 mph continued to fuel the Santiago fire, expanding it to 18,000 acres and prompting widespread evacuations overnight, firefighters said.
Wind conditions have grounded four air tankers, and a new challenge emerged as offshore Santa Ana winds had begun to blow up against onshore coastal winds, creating a swirling microclimate that made fighting the fire in tight canyons more dangerous and unpredictable.
The winds and heat have complicated firefighters' efforts to protect homes and lives as the fire jumped Santiago Canyon Road and moved northeast toward the rural canyons that abut the Cleveland National Forest. Early this afternoon, the containment was unchanged at 30%.
About 900 Modjeska Canyon residents were evacuated early today, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Evacuation orders also were in place for parts of Williams and Silverado canyons, Santiago Canyon Road and Hangman Tree Road.
Shelters were set up at El Toro High School, 25255 Toledo Way, where more than 200 adults and about 50 children were staying, according to Daphne Hart of the American Red Cross. Another shelter was opened at El Modena High School, 3920 Spring St., in Orange.