On Wednesday afternoon, a small brush fire briefly halted traffic on the northbound Glendale Freeway, while a much larger inferno raged in Orange County, scorching over 200 acres.
Details of the Glendale Blaze
The Glendale fire, known as the York fire, ignited near California 2 close to Round Top Drive at around 4:50 p.m., as reported by Fire Department spokesperson Jamie Stewart. Initially categorized as a modest quarter-acre fire with manageable conditions, it rapidly expanded to 2 acres.
Due to the escalating situation, police were requested to momentarily close all northbound lanes of California 2 at approximately 5 p.m., allowing a water tanker to access the fire site. This closure lasted only three minutes, according to California Highway Patrol Sgt. Christian Stevens. However, by 6 p.m., two lanes remained shut, along with the northbound on-ramps from York Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard, with no specific time for reopening given.
Approximately 100 firefighters and 17 fire engines worked tirelessly to combat the York fire. Fortunately, no structures were in danger, and by 6 p.m., the fire’s advancement had been halted, although crews continued to work at the scene for cleanup. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries.
The Orange County Fire Incident
Meanwhile, the situation south in Orange County was more severe, with the Gibby fire rapidly consuming 216 acres near Rancho Mission Viejo and San Juan Capistrano. This blaze erupted around 3 p.m. near the intersection of Ortega Highway and Gibby Road, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The fire prompted immediate road closures, affecting both eastbound Ortega Highway at Gateway Place and westbound at Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore. For safety, shelter-in-place orders were issued for several hours as fire crews worked to contain the flames. Fortunately, by about 7:30 p.m., the Orange County Fire Authority reported that the fire’s forward progress had been halted, though Ortega Highway remained closed between Gateway and Grand.
