While evacuated Irvine residents await word on when they can return to their homes, it looks like conditions are improving for those fleeing the Silverado Fire in Irvine, according to Irvine Mayor Christina Shea.

There are still more than 70,000 residents under mandatory evacuation orders, as crews work to battle wind, dry vegetation, and rough terrain for a second straight day around Irvine’s Silverado Canyon.

Shea said she is waiting to hear when families can return, but considering the weather conditions and the Orange County Fire Authorities ability reach 5 percent containment, she was optimistic the worst was over.

“We are in good shape, our city is out of danger,” Shea said in an interview with Irvine Weekly. “We are waiting to hear when families can return. Still a few hot spots but OCFA did a great job protecting Irvine.”

There are now more than a dozen helicopters and 750 firefighters working to knock down the Silverado Fire in Irvine, which began on Monday, Oct. 26.

 

Orange County fire crews were able to reach a 5 percent containment overnight on the Irvine Silverado Fire, which has currently burned 11,200 acres. With wind velocity decreasing, SoCal Air operations were able to support ground crews in battling the blaze.

Orange County Fire Authority Captain Steve Concialdi echoed Mayor Shea’s optimism and said the air support has been a critical weapon in defeating the Silverado Fire in Irvine.

“We had 14 helicopters assigned today, and those helicopters helped tremendously,” he said. “The hand crews firefighters cut a line around the fire parameter, down to mineral soil, so that way it doesn’t grow, and the fire will stop at that point. That’s assisted by firefighters with engine companies with hose lines that will put water on the fire and vegetation and then our helicopters are dropping water on any hot spots, so that you can extinguish the fire,” Concialdi explained. “Most of it is extinguished, it’s not going to grow and it’s not going to threaten any homes or lives.”

There has been no structural damage reported as a result of the Irvine Silverado Fire, which Orange County Fire Authority Fire Chief Brian Fennessy credited to defensible space around Irvine.

“We’ve been very fortunate not to have lost any structures, yet. A lot of that has to do with all the great work our citizens have done within the city of Irvine, the brush clearances — everything we’ve asked for in terms of defensible space, really led to a lot of success in terms of a lack of structure loss within the city of Irvine,” Fennessy explained during a press conference on Monday Oct. 26.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting Irvine Weekly and our advertisers.