Silverado Fire: 2 firefighters critically injured, 90K residents displaced by evacuation order
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
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Silverado Fire: 2 firefighters injured, 90K residents displaced by evacuation order (NCD)
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
IRVINE, Calif. — Two Southern California firefighters suffered critical injuries Monday battling the fast-growing Silverado Fire near Irvine.
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Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate Firefighter Tylor Gilbert puts out hotspots while battling the Silverado Fire, Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate A firefighter battles the Silverado Fire Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate Firefighter Raymond Vasquez battles the Silverado Fire Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate Banners advertising new homes are seen behind smoke from a grass fire as the Silverado Fire threatens residential areas Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate The Silverado Fire burns along the 241 State Highway Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate Smoke from the Silverado Fire fills the air along the 241 State Highway Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate An SUV is parked in the evacuated residential area filled with heavy smoke from the Silverado Fire Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate Gusting winds carry smoke from the Silverado Fire into residential areas Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate Firefighter Tylor Gilbert puts out hotspots while battling the Silverado Fire, Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate A firefighter watches flames from the Silverado Fire, Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate A firefighter puts out hotspots while battling the Silverado Fire, Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. The fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate A firefighter braves gusty winds as heavy smoke from the Silverado Fire fills the air, Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate The Silverado Fire burns Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Silverado Fire in Southern California forces thousands to evacuate A firefighter prepares to put out hotspots while battling the Silverado Fire, Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. The fast-moving wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California on Monday as powerful winds across the state prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands to prevent utility equipment from sparking new blazes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy confirmed the men suffered second- and third-degree burns and said both men were on ventilators when he visited them in the emergency room.
“They were not in a position where they could speak with me,” Fennessy said during a Monday news conference. “Our firefighters are some of the bravest in the world. This is a very hazardous job.”
According to CNN, both men, ages 26 and 31, are part of the Orange County Fire Authority’s ground crew, which uses hand tools to stop wildfire flames from progressing.
A report filed with the California Public Utilities Commission indicates a Southern California Edison power line may have played a role in the ignition of the Silverado Fire, which combined with the new Blue Ridge Fire, prompted the evacuation of 90,000 people, the network reported.
Both blazes, spurred by the powerful Santa Ana winds, have zero containment, and the Silverado Fire had scorched more than 7,200 acres by Monday night, CBS News reported.
