Complete fire containment reached

The 1,500 city residents who were evacuated late Saturday night and early Sunday morning can relax easier.

The Triangle Complex Fire was 100 percent contained on Wednesday with 30,305 acres burned over four counties in Southern California in a vast area stretching across a northern Orange County.

With an estimated 13,102 acres burned in Chino Hills, residents and officials have called the zero loss of homes in the city a miracle.

"I think in a situation like this we are extremely grateful for all of the efforts of our firefighters and law enforcement personnel and everyone that assisted in a situation like this," said city spokeswoman Valerie McClung.

Officials said they are now in the process of reviewing lessons learned from the event.

"We'll do a complete analysis and overview of the entire event from when it started on Saturday morning," McClung said. "We'll take a look and see how we did and how our staff responded to see what we can do better in that situation and look at everything that happened from the time it started to the time it ended."

Authorities are still assessing the amount of damaging to property in Chino Hills, though in total, the property damage stemming from the entire fire are estimated at $1.4 million and there were 14 minor injuries reported.

In the Chino Hills area there were an estimated 32 strike teams, each comprised of five engines; 22 crews with about 400 fire fighters; 15 bulldozers; and 11 water tenders.
By Wednesday, about 2,784 fire fighters were wrapping up the fight with small mop up operations throughout the fire zone, said Chino Valley Independent Fire District spokeswoman Maciel Ladron De Guevara.

"We just want to thank the residents with complying with the evacuation orders and to know it's really for their safety and it's a great help to the firefighters that they comply," said De Guevara. "We're very grateful to them. We understand it's a difficult time and we appreciate their cooperations."

City Manager Doug La Belle thanked residence for their patience.

"There was much work to be done to patrol for hot spots, repair power poles, remove boulders, and debris from the roadway before Canyon residents could return home. The danger is not over when the smoke and flames die down," he said. "The historic neighborhoods in the canyon have narrow roads, flammable vegetation, and difficult access. Fire apparatus must have access in and out of those communities to ensure that the fire does not flare up."