November 14, 2020
SANTA ANA, California—A wind-driven brush fire broke out Monday, October 26 in Orange County, critically injuring two firefighters and forcing tens of thousands of residents from their homes, according to Firehouse.
The Silverado fire broke out just after 6:45 am PDT near Santiago Canyon and Silverado Canyon road. By 1 pm, the fire grew to 4,000 acres.
Two hand crew firefighters were severely burned as they battled the inferno from the ground, according to Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy.
One of the fighters injured is Phi Le. He and another firefighter are in an induced coma and in critical condition with 2nd and 3rd-degree burns to over 65% of their bodies. They were fighting to save homes and lives on the day the wind blew out of control.
Phi Le graduated from the Ventura Training Center with honors and was hired shortly after graduation by Orange County Fire.
“This is tough for me, tough for all my firefighters and certainly for the families of my two injured firefighters,” Fennessy said during a news conference outside the Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, where the firefighters were being treated, according to Firehouse.
Scott Budnick, film producer of The Hangover, Just Mercy, Old School, and Project X posted a tribute to Phi Le, stating, “Could everyone please pray for Phi and the other firefighters recovery, send him messages of love.”
Orange County Fire set up a GoFundMe page titled, “Orange County, CA Firefighters,” for Phi and the other injured firefighter. Their end-goal is $1,000,000 and so far, raised about $722, 891.
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