Three Hurt Fighting 25-Acre Brush Fire
Three firefighters were injured Saturday while fighting a 25-acre brush fire at Santiago Canyon Road and Silverado Canyon Road, the Orange County Fire Authority said.
The blaze began on a hillside covered with heavy brush, making it difficult for firefighters to reach the flames, said department spokesman Dennis Shell.
Firefighters were forced to stretch their 70-pound hoses across nearly 1,000 feet of an asphalt road to reach the fire, Shell said.
“It’s pretty backbreaking work,” Shell said. “They have to hike up the hill, roll the hose and move quickly to keep up with the pace. With the rough terrain, the heat of the day and the fire, those are pretty tough conditions.”
One department firefighter was treated at the scene; two Cleveland National Forest firefighters were transported to a local hospital to be treated for thermal burns to their faces, Shell said.
The firefighters are expected to recuperate, Shell said.
As of Saturday night, 95 firefighters had contained 75% of the fire, Shell said. About 50 firefighters were expected to work overnight to try to contain the rest by morning, Shell said.
Arson investigators have not determined what caused the fire, which was reported to the department at 1:20 p.m., Shell said.
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