Crime & Safety

Fire in Santiago Canyon Now 40% Contained

The Baker Fire now covers 50 acres and led to the evacuation of 21 nearby residents.

Nearly 250 Orange County firefighters worked today to contain a fire that started at a waste recycling business in Santiago Canyon and spread to 50 acres, prompting a score of residents to evacuate.

The Baker Fire was 40 percent contained by mid-morning, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

The fire started around 10 a.m. Sunday in a mulch pile at Aguinaga Green, a business that recycles green waste at 27910 Baker Canyon Rd., near Black Star Canyon Rd., according to OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi. 

Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

What sparked the fire was under investigation. The fire then spread into wild vegetation in the Santa Ana Mountains and damaged a barn, he said.

Water-dropping helicopters and fixed wing aircraft were deployed during daylight hours Sunday, Concialdi said.

Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Concialdi said there was a voluntary evacuation order issued for residents of six Baker Canyon homes and a nearby mobile home park, and 21 residents left their homes. A Red Cross evacuation center was set up at El Modena High School at 3920 E. Spring St. in Orange, he added.

"So far there are 21 residents from that area who have come to the evacuation center," Concialdi said early this morning.

Concialdi said one firefighter suffered a minor injury battling the fire Sunday.

– City News Service


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.