Silverado Fire Prompts School Closures and Mandatory Evacuations

Krisha Konchadi, Front Page Editor|October 26, 2020

Jaein Kim
High winds worsened the fire, in turn causing air quality to decrease as thick layers of smoke began covering areas of Irvine. According to the National Weather Service, gusts of wind were blowing at around 45 miles per hour in the wildfire affected areas. This photo was taken in the Woodbury neighborhood at 9 a.m. on Oct. 26.

This article is being updated as events unfold, but please reference https://www.cityofirvine.org/office-emergency-management/evacuation-zone-map for the latest evacuation information.

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UPDATE (Oct. 27, 4:05 p.m.): Due to the ongoing impacts of the fires, online, in-person and IVA instruction will be cancelled for Oct. 28.

UPDATE (Oct. 27, 8:32 a.m.): The fire is 5% contained, two firefighters have been injured, more than 90,000 Irvine residents have evacuated and around 11,200 acres of land have burned. There is also a possibility that equipment from Southern California Edison (SCE) started the fire, according to KTLA news.

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The Silverado fires near Santiago Canyon Road have blazed across 4,000 acres as of 2:02 p.m. on Oct. 26, according to CBSN Los Angeles. According to the Orange County Fire Authority, the Silverado Fire is at 0% containment. 

Freeways, offices and schools have been closed to ensure the safety of people. As a result, all IUSD schools, including IVA, will be closed with no in-person or digital instruction tomorrow, Oct. 27.

Mayor Christina Shea has confirmed multiple homes in Portola Springs have been damaged from the fires as of 4:50 pm on Oct. 26, according to Voice of OC. 

The brush fires have visibly advanced onto Northwood High and Crean Lutheran fields as reported on live California wildfire maps. 

Mandatory evacuations have been instituted from Irvine Blvd. south to Trabuco Road and from Jeffrey Road east to Portola High. Around 60,000 Irvine residents have evacuated as of 2:02 pm, according to CBS LA news. 

Once schools were announced to be closed, IUSD Communications released an email stating “The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and families is our top priority.  Please know that we understand how stressful this time is and we are committed to supporting our IUSD community.  Please visit iusd.org/WeCare or contact your school if your student(s) needs mental health and wellness or other supports.”

High winds worsened the fire, in turn causing air quality to decrease as thick layers of smoke began covering areas of Irvine. According to the National Weather Service, gusts of wind were blowing at around 45 miles per hour in the wildfire affected areas. 

People have packed their necessities and toiletries and taken place in hotels, relatives’ and friends’ houses for safety. 

“I packed my bags with school work and a couple of clothes and left the house and went to the UCI campus to park one of our cars for safety,” junior Diya Jain said. “I’m feeling distressed and uncertain about my house burning down but a little relaxed since schools closed.” 

Evacuation shelters in Irvine have set up in Woodbridge High school, Village Church of Irvine, Mariners Church and Newport Coast Community Center. 

For those in need of support due to the wildfires, contact the Irvine Emergency Operations Center  at 949-529-4774.

For those in need of help navigating evacuation areas, use this map.