Dampness Helps Contain Brush Fire at Tract
A brush fire ripped across 30 acres of a grassy hillside in Irvine on Sunday evening at the Shady Canyon development, before county firefighters contained the blaze.
“We were concerned it was making a run,” said Chief Gorge Camargo of the Orange County Fire Authority. He said the damp evening conditions helped firefighters get the blaze under control within an hour after it was reported at 5:59 p.m.
The fire started under a utility pole off a dirt road about 1 1/2 miles west of the Sand Canyon Road entrance to the San Diego Freeway. Half the burned land is designated open space to protect sensitive habitats. Luxury homes and “golf villas” are being constructed by the Irvine Co. on the other half.
Investigators have not determined a cause. Fire officials said 19 fire engines, two bulldozers, two patrol units and a helicopter helped contain the blaze.
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