California’s Silverado Fire Causes 60,000 Evacuations

For the last few months California has been having a series of detrimental fires throughout the northern region. Early Monday morning The Silverado Fire, a vegetation fire that begun in the Santa Ana Mountains, has spread throughout the Santiago Canyon area near Irvine.

According to KTLA, “The fire was initially reported at 10 acres, but it had grown to 4,000 acres by 1 p.m., according to the Orange County Fire Authority. It’s 0% contained.” The strong winds are strengthening the fire, “estimated to be about 20-30 miles per hour, with gusts of 60-70 mph,” according to CNN.

As flames rise, “The city of Irvine issued an immediate evacuation order for about 60,000 residents,” according to CNN.

Over 500 firefighters are working to extinguish the fire and two of those firefighters suffered critical injuries from battling the Orange County Fire Authority. According to a tweet from the OFCA “two OCFA Handcrew members were critically injured fighting the Silverado Fire. Aged 26 and 31, both are covered in second and third degree burns.”

The two firefighters are being intubated at the Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, according to the OCFA.

The Orange County Register reports that in early April 2025, the OC Board of Supervisors approved a $4.5 million settlement with T-Mobile for its part in the setting of the Silverado fire.

This settlement comes after the board reached agreements two months prior with Southern California Edison totaling $18.125 million to pay for damage caused by the 2020 Silverado fire and the 2022 Coastal fire — which scorched about 200 acres, consumed at least 20 homes, and damaged another 11.

The lawsuit alleges Edison failed to maintain its “aging” electrical infrastructure and clear away brush.

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