Santiago Fire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santiago Fire |
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| Location | South Orange County, California |
| Coordinates | 33°44′56″N 117°40′19″W / 33.748833493954166°N 117.67193611186944°W |
| Statistics | |
| Cost | At least $21.6 million (2007 USD) |
| Date(s) | October 21, 2007 – November 9, 2007 5:55 PM |
| Burned area | 28,445 acres (115 km2) |
| Cause | Arson |
| Buildings destroyed | 16 residential structures 9 outbuildings |
| Deaths | None reported |
| Non-fatal injuries | 16 firefighters |
| Perpetrator(s) | Arsonist |
The Santiago Fire was a large wildfire that happened in Orange County, California. It started near Santiago Canyon in October 2007. This fire was one of many big fires that happened in California that month. Sadly, the Santiago Fire was started on purpose, which is called arson.
About the Santiago Fire
The fire began on October 21, 2007, at 5:55 p.m. It started near Santiago Canyon Road. This area is between Santiago Canyon and Silverado Canyon. The fire grew very large, burning about 28,445 acres (115.11 km²).
The flames came close to about 750 homes. These homes were in several canyons nearby. Some of these areas included Santiago Canyon, Silverado Canyon, and Modjeska Canyon. Twelve houses in Santiago Canyon were completely destroyed. In other areas like Foothill Ranch, the fire reached backyards. However, no homes were lost in those neighborhoods.
Fighting the Fire
Firefighters worked hard to stop the blaze. The fire was fully under control by November 9. It had burned over 28,400 acres (115 km²) by then.
Mike Rohde, a chief with the Orange County Fire Authority, explained something important. He said that controlling the fire depended a lot on the wind. If the wind stayed calm, things would be okay. If it became strong, it would be a "totally different story."
The fire spread into the Cleveland National Forest. It also crossed the Santa Ana Mountains, burning the hillsides. Over 1,100 firefighters helped battle the fire. They got a lucky break when the weather changed. The strong Santa Ana winds calmed down. The air became cooler and more humid. This helped the firefighters gain control.
The Santiago Fire affected many communities. These included Irvine, Santiago Canyon, Silverado Canyon, and Trabuco Canyon.
