Water drops from helicopters until 11 p.m. Wednesday helped firefighters get brush fire in Upper Trabuco Canyon under control.
By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERUPPER TRABUCO CANYON – Nighttime water drops helped control a brush fire Wednesday night that burned through rough terrain and destroyed two cabins, fire officials said.
The fire started in an occupied cabin on West Horse Thief Canyon, but wind and embers spread the flames to a nearby cabin and nearby brush, said Capt. Steve Concialdi of the Orange County Fire Authority on Thursday.
Helicopters made water drops before firefighters were able to start attacking the fire on the ground, Concialdi said. That helped slow down a brush fire that could have quickly grown.
"This easily could have grown to 10,000 acres," Concialdi said.
The fire was first reported as burning in Holy Jim Canyon, but officials Thursday said the fire was actually ignited in Upper Trabuco Canyon along West Horse Thief Canyon.
On Thursday morning, nearly 100 firefighters from the Fire Authority, the U.S. Forest Service and the state firefighting agency remained on the scene. Fire officials expect winds of up to 25 mph on the area's ridges Thursday, increasing the potential for a flare-up.
"We want to make sure all the hot spots are out," Concialdi said.
The fire burned 2 acres in the steep terrain and destroyed two cabins in the wilderness of east Orange County.
Flames were reported at 6:07 p.m. Wednesday.
What sparked the fire is still under investigation, but fire officials believe the flames were ignited in a cabin that was occupied by a man in his mid- to late 20s, Concialdi said. The man suffered first- and second-degree burns to his neck and arms while he tried to fight the flames and move his vehicle.
He also suffered a cut on his foot.
Winds spread embers from the fire and sparked three spot fires on steep hillsides and thick brush that were not accessible to firefighters on the ground, Concialdi said.
The area has not experienced a wildfire for years and brush reached up to 10 feet tall in some areas, he said.
One of the brush fires was sparked about one-fourth mile away from the cabin.
Fire Authority pilots, however, were able to make water drops in the dark until 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Nearly 100 firefighters were expected to remain in the area to prevent any flare-ups.--
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