SANTA ANA, Calif. — Hundreds of firefighters battled both flames and triple-digit temperatures Saturday as they sought to contain a wildfire that forced people to flee about 30 homes near Southern California’s Cleveland National Forest.

The fire, which burned through about 21/2 square miles of dry canyon brush, was only about 10 percent contained Saturday, said Deanne Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Emergency Operations Center.

Meanwhile, both heat and smoke advisories were in effect for the area, with temperatures forecast to reach as high as 105 degrees between Saturday and Tuesday.

On Friday, officials ordered the evacuation of about 30 homes in the area. None were reported burned, and authorities said it was just a precaution, but residents remained out of their homes on Saturday.

About 300 firefighters, aided by aircraft, battled the flames, which sent up a towering column of smoke that could be seen for miles throughout Southern California. Three firefighters suffered undisclosed minor injuries.

Although temperatures were high, firefighters who worked in the steep terrain were aided by light winds.

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“The wind was very mild, and with increased humidity and lower temperatures we’re not seeing rapid growth,” Orange County fire Capt. Mike Petro said late Friday.

The National Weather Service says high pressure combined with a weak offshore flow could create high temperatures throughout the weekend reaching up to 20 degrees above normal through Tuesday.

Power was out in some areas Saturday, and Thompson said authorities had opened several cooling areas.

The Cleveland National Forest sprawls over the rugged peaks of the Santa Ana Mountains, straddling the Orange and Riverside county line southeast of Los Angeles.


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