Thousands Ordered to Flee Homes as Storm Hits Southern California

YORBA LINDA, Calif. – New mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in wildfire burn areas of Yorba Linda after hours of rain have brought increased fears of mudslides in Orange County and across Southern California.

The Orange County Fire Department called for the evacuation Wednesday morning of at least 1,500 people in the Box Canyon, Brush Canyon, and San Antonio Fairmont areas of Yorba Linda.

Fire Captain Greg McKeown says no mudslides or debris flows have been reported yet, but that rain levels met a threshold that prompted the evacuations.

Voluntary evacuations had already been called for in the area, which was torched by the huge Freeway Complex fire earlier this month.