ANAHEIM, Calif. (CNS) - Amid dry and windy conditions that prompted fire warnings across Southern California, a brush fire erupted Monday morning alongside the eastbound Riverside (91) Freeway near the 241 toll road in Anaheim Hills, forcing mandatory evacuations.
Saw fire trucks headed our way. On Santiago Canyon Rd, South of the 241 entrance @10News #CanyonFire2 pic.twitter.com/zfXqpSMnRg
— Anthony Pura (@10NewsPura) October 9, 2017
The fire, which broke out around 9:45 a.m., was burning about a mile of the area scorched by the recent Canyon Fire that blackened more than 2,600 acres and took more than a week to contain.
The new blaze, dubbed Canyon Fire 2, started near the 91 Freeway and Gypsum Canyon Road, according to Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Larry Kurtz. The blaze was initially reported at 25 acres, but quickly exploded in size and reached at least 6,000 acres by 10 p.m.
PHOTOS: Skies above Disneyland turn orange from Canyon Fire 2 smoke
One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was taken to the hospital.
With winds whipping at about 25 mph and pushing the fire west, mandatory evacuation orders were issued for residents south of the 91 Freeway and west of the 241 toll road. The evacuation area was repeatedly expanded, reaching west toward Nohl Ranch and Canyon Rim roads.
New link to searchable map for #CanyonFire2 evacuated areas: https://t.co/ezuWhaLpWL
— Anaheim Fire &Rescue (@AnaheimFire) October 10, 2017
Evacuations were also ordered in the east end of Orange and North Tustin.
Evacuated residents were directed to the Downtown Anaheim Community Center, 250 E. Center St., or the Downtown Anaheim Youth Center, 225 S. Philadelphia. An evacuation center for horses was established at the Orange County Fairgrounds.
All eastbound lanes of the 91 Freeway were closed in the area, along with both sides of the 241 Freeway south of the 91 Freeway.
