A brush fire broke out near the 241 Tollway in Irvine Monday, quickly spreading to nearly 100 acres and threatening to fan out to 500 acres.
The blaze broke out just before 4:50 p.m. near the toll road and Santiago Canyon Road, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Tony Bommarito said. About 300 firefighters were on the ground battling the fire, aided by crews in eight helicopters and six air tankers, said OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi.
Firefighters were concerned the blaze would jump Santiago Canyon Road and hoped to head it off before it reached the thoroughfare, Bommarito said. It doesn't appear that it will threaten the tollway, but northbound lanes were closed, he added. No injuries were reported.
Concialdi said wind hasn't been much of a factor, but there's a great deal of dry brush in the area fueling the fire.
