Wind-blown Bond fire threatens Orange County homes

A wind-blown wildfire threatened homes in mountain communities in Orange County, prompting evacuations and warnings early Thursday that the blaze could spread quickly.

A mandatory evacuation order was in effect for residents of Silverado Canyon, Modjeska Canyon and Williams Canyon when the Bond fire exploded over 2,000 acres, the Orange County Fire Authority said. Structures were at risk in the Silverado and Williams canyons.

The embers started new fires on Santiago Canyon Road. “Area residents must be prepared to evacuate,” Orange County fire officials said in a tweet. More than 240 firefighters were fighting the blaze.

Voluntary evacuation warnings were in effect at Borrego Canyon, Foothill Ranch, Baker Ranch, Portola Hills, Live Oak Canyon, Trabuco Canyon and Rose Canyon, as well as on Valley Vista Way and Meadow Ridge Drive.

Firefighters said shortly after 11 p.m. on Wednesday that a structural fire had spread to nearby vegetation and that firefighters were on site with the help of fire helicopters and a helitanker.

Dangerous fire weather conditions are in effect over large swathes of Southern California as dry, gusty Santa Ana winds are expected from the northeast, with widespread gusts of 30 mph to 50 mph h expected and gusts of 50 mph to 70 mph possible in mountain passes and adjacent. Hills. “Any fires that develop will likely spread quickly,” the National Weather Service said.

Significant gusts were already reported on Wednesday evening, including gusts of up to 49 mph at Santiago Peak.

The LA County National Weather Service’s office has issued an unusual warning of a “particularly dangerous situation” for the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties and the Santa Clarita Valley, with gusts from the northeast forecast for 55 mph to 70 mph, accompanied by dry air, with an expected relative humidity as low as 4%.

The most severe conditions were expected Thursday from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m.