The latest from the Orange County Emergency Operations Center:

INTERSTATE 5 SOUTHBOUND RE-OPENED

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has re-opened the southbound I-5 Freeway in southern Orange County. Motorists are advised that road conditions may change as fire conditions change and they should be prepared for delays or detours.

Orange County residents are encouraged to monitor their local television or radio stations for the most current information about the Santiago Fire.

The Orange County Public Information Hotline number is (714) 628-7085.  Unless there is a life-threatening emergency, do not call 911. 

ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS CLOSURES 

Several Orange County Regional Parks are closed due to the extreme fire danger and the severe Santa Ana Winds that have caused damage to mature trees and made conditions within the parks hazardous. Regional Parks (including trails) that are temporarily closed:

• Aliso and Wood Canyons
• Carbon Canyon
• Caspers
• Irvine
• Laguna Coast
• Mile Square
• O'Neill
• Peters Canyon
• Riley
• Santiago Oaks
• Limestone/Whiting Ranch
• Yorba

The public is asked to cooperate with the County of Orange in staying out of open space areas and off the trails during the extreme fire hazard conditions. Firefighters, park rangers and other resource agencies need the public to comply with the park and trail closures until it is safe for the public and not harmful to the environment.  

SANTIAGO FIRE SCHOOL CLOSURES 

School closures for Wednesday, 10-24-2007. Orange U.S.D.                         

• Silverado Elementary

Saddleback U.S.D.                   

• Foothill Ranch Elementary
• Portola Hills Elementary
• Trabuco Elementary
• NO buses in Foothill Ranch community
• NO buses in Portola Hills community

ORANGE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IS AGAIN ACCEPTING ANIMALS 

The Orange County Fairgrounds is again accepting large and small animals evacuated as a result of the Santiago Fire.  Owners should provide feed for their animals. To expand capacity, the Fairgrounds staff are building additional stalls and corrals as time and materials permit.  The contact number for the Fairgrounds is 714-708-1588. The Orange County Public Information Hotline number is 714-628-7085. Unless there is a life-threatening emergency, do not call 911.

Please continue to monitor your local television or radio stations for the most current information.

Orange County Register reports can be found here and here.