Evacuation orders lifted as firefighters work to contain Blue Ridge Fire

Blue Ridge Fire burns over 14,000 acres

The winds have calmed down helping out firefighters battling two major wildfires in Orange County. The Blue Ridge Fire in the Yorba Linda - Chino Hills area -- is now 16-percent contained.

YORBA LINDA, Calif. - All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted as firefighter get the upper hand in containing the Blue Ridge Fire that is burning in Yorba Linda.

As of Monday morning, the fire was at 13,694 acres burned and was 93% contained.

Evacuation orders, warnings lifted in Yorba Linda

Evacuation orders have been lifted for Yorba Linda residents.

The blaze ignited on Oct. 26 on the west end of Corona in Riverside County quickly spread into Orange County.

Full containment isn't expected until November 10, fire officials said.

The large blaze is threatened homes in Yorba Linda and Chino Hills. At one point, the Orange County Fire Authority said residents in nearly 8,500 homes were evacuated and at least 7 structures have been damaged and one destroyed.

Evacuations

Officials said all evacuation orders and warnings related to the Blue Ridge Fire have been lifted as of Oct. 29. Residents are now allowed to return home.

Evacuation Center

A temporary evacuation center has been established at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center located at 24932 Veterans Way in Mission Viejo, the city of Mission Viejo announced.

A temporary evacuation center has been set up at Thomas Lasorda Jr. Field House 4701 Casa Loma Ave Yorba Linda and Brea Community Center which is located at 695 Madison Way Brea. Those with large animals can go to OC Animal Care Services at 1630 Victoria Road Tustin.

(FOX 11)

Road Closures

As of Oct. 30, no road closures were in effect.

Initially called the Green Fire and later renamed the Blue Ridge Fire, the blaze was reported at 12:55 p.m. on Oct. 26 adjacent to the Green River Golf Club, just off of Green River Road and the 91 Freeway, according to the Corona Fire Department.

The high winds grounded aircraft used to battle fires for most of the day, but by late this afternoon, a DC-10 was up in the air making airdrops in Yorba Linda, Fennessy said.

"But we're also told we can expect (winds) to increase in the early morning hours until they die off some time tomorrow afternoon," he said.

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About 186 firefighters are battling the blaze. Multiple engine crews from the city and Riverside County Fire Department encountered flames moving rapidly west up a hillside, powered by 30 mph Santa Ana winds.

The head of the fire entered Orange County about 1:20 p.m., and the flames raced toward Yorba Linda, posing a threat to scores of residences.

A grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency was secured Monday by Gov. Gavin Newsom, which will assist local and state agencies in responding to the fire to apply for 75% reimbursement of their eligible firefighting costs.

Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel signed anemergency declaration Tuesday and asked Newsom to sign one as well for thecounty to free up more funding.

There is no immediate word on the cause of the fire.

FOX 11's Kelli Johnson contributed to this report.