Firefighter Injured While Battling Blaze In Cleveland National Forest
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA (CBSLA.com) — A firefighter was injured while battling a blaze that has scorched about 155 acres of brush in the Bell Ridge area of the Cleveland National Forest Wednesday.
The blaze, dubbed the Holy Fire, was reported at about 4 a.m. in the general area of Holy Jim Canyon, several miles east of Rancho Santa Margarita, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Larry Kurtz said.
No structures were threatened. Some residents of Holy Jim Canyon were voluntarily evacuating, but it was not mandatory, Kurtz said.
The injured firefighter was airlifted off the line, but that was more for convenience than an indicator of his condition, Kurtz said. He was taken to an area hospital for "precautionary" reasons, according to Kurtz, but the nature of his injuries was not disclosed.
Roughly 200 firefighters had seven air tankers and 11 helicopters attacking the flames, Kurtz said.
An evacuation center for residents affected by the Holy Fire has been opened at the Silverado Community Center, 27641 Silverado Canyon Road. A Public Information Hotline has also been activated at (714) 628-7085.
(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)