Santiago Fire

Santiago fire of October 2007
Location	South Orange County, California
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
Injuries	16 firefighters
Fatalities	None reported
Perpetrator(s)	Arsonist

The Santiago Fire was a wildfire located near Santiago Canyon in Orange County, California, U.S., and one of twenty-three California wildfires of October 2007. The fire was intentionally started.

The blaze originated near Santiago Canyon Road at the border of Santiago Canyon and Silverado Canyon at 5:55 p.m. on October 21, 2007, and burned approximately 28,445 acres (115 km²). The flames threatened roughly 750 homes located throughout canyons in the area, including both Santiago and Silverado Canyon, Live Oak Canyon, Holy Jim Canyon, Modjeska Canyon, and Trabuco Canyon, among others. Twelve houses were destroyed in Santiago Canyon. In Foothill Ranch, the Santiago Canyon Estates, and Portola Hills, the fire reached the back yards of houses, but no homes were destroyed in those three neighborhoods.

The fire became fully contained on November 9. Although containment was announced at that time, the fire continued. In total, the Santiago Fire burned for a total of 31 days. According to Mike Rohde, a battalion chief with the Orange County Fire Authority, controlling the fire depended solely on the wind, saying at the time, "If the wind stays normal, everything will be fine." Had it not, it would have been a "totally different story."

The fire moved into the Cleveland National Forest and crossed the path of the Santa Ana Mountains, singeing the slopes. According to the 1,100 firefighters who battled the blaze, the air conditions changed from the tumultuous Santa Ana winds to lower temperatures, more humidity, and more gentle onshore winds. The fire affected Irvine, Santiago Canyon, Silverado Canyon, Modjeska Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Foothill Ranch, and Portola Hills.

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