More than 5,000 homes evacuated as O.C. fire grows to 6,000 acres, destroying 24 structures

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-anaheim-hills-fire-20171009-story.html

Awind-fed wildfire surged over the Anaheim Hills on Monday, burning several homes and forcing thousands to evacuate as fire crews struggled to battle the rapidly growing blaze.

The fire broke out around 9:20 a.m. near the 91 Freeway and Gypsum Canyon Road, and quickly leaped the California 241 toll road. It raced up a ridge and hit tract homes at the top of a hill. Several caught fire and continued to burn even as firefighters sprayed the structures with water.

By 9 p.m., the blaze had scorched 6,000 acres and destroyed 24 structures. One firefighter had to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Two hours later, an Anaheim police spokesman said the fire was 5% contained. All evacuation orders will remain in place overnight, he said, and it’s “doubtful” residents will be allowed to go home Tuesday.

The Canyon No. 2 fire put an added drain on state firefighting resources as first responders battled more than a dozen blazes that erupted in Northern California on Sunday night, leaving 10 dead and destroying 1,500 structures.

By Tuesday, “we’re gonna be as stretched as we can be,” said Steven Beech, an incident commander with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.