| Holy Fire | |
| Location: | Cleveland National Forest, Orange and Riverside Counties, California |
| Coordinates: | 33.6789°N -117.5167°W |
| Reference: | [1] [2] |
| Cost: | >$25.7 million (2018 USD)[3] |
| Area: | 23136acres |
| Cause: | Arson |
| Buildings: | 18 |
| Injuries: | 3 firefighters[4] |
| Fatalities: | None reported |
| Perps: | Unknown (1 suspect acquitted by jury) |
| Motive: | Unknown |
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| Pushpin Map: | California |
The Holy Fire was a wildfire that burned in the Cleveland National Forest in Orange and Riverside Counties, California. The wildfire started on August 6, 2018, at around 1:15 PM PDT, in the vicinity of Trabuco Canyon.[5] [6] A suspected arsonist was booked into the Orange County jail in Santa Ana, California[7] but found not guilty in 2023. The blaze burned 23136acres[8] [9] and destroyed 18 buildings, before it was fully contained on September 13, 2018.[10] While the fire was actively spreading in early and mid-August, residents of the nearby cities of Corona, Temescal Valley, and Lake Elsinore were placed under evacuation orders.[11]
The Holy Fire was first reported at 1:15 PM PST on Monday, August 6, 2018, in Holy Jim Canyon (from which the fire derives its name),[12] a community of about 40 homes and cabins in the Trabuco Canyon area of the Santa Ana Mountains.[13] Evacuation orders were issued for parts of Trabuco Canyon, including the entire community of Holy Jim. Trabuco Creek Road was subsequently closed at Trabuco Canyon Road indefinitely as the Orange County Sheriff Department continues their investigation. It quickly moved uphill in a northeast direction, jumping the crest of the Santa Ana Mountains into neighboring Riverside County, threatening the areas of Corona, El Cerrito, and Glen Ivy Hot Springs. At the time, the cause of the fire was under investigation.
By August 8, thirteen cabins had been destroyed in Holy Jim (sic - impacted cabins are in Trabuco).[14] No major injuries were reported.[15] By August 10, one home along Ortega Highway had also been destroyed, the only confirmed home in Riverside County at that time. By August 13, the Holy Fire had destroyed a total of 18 structures in both Orange and Riverside Counties.
On August 13, the neighborhoods under mandatory evacuation included:[16] [17] [18] [19]
As of August 13, neighborhoods under voluntary evacuation included:
The fire was allegedly started by 51-year-old Forrest Gordon Clark, who ignited it near a cabin owned by Clark in the Holy Jim Canyon community.[20] He was arrested on August 8, 2018, and booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of two counts of felony arson, one count of felony threat to terrorize, and one count of misdemeanor resisting arrest. Two weeks before the fire started, Clark reportedly sent a message to Mike Milligan, the volunteer fire chief of Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department, reading "This place is going to burn." However, Clark later claimed he was asleep at the time the fire started.[21] Clark’s bail was set for $1 million.
On August 10, 2018, Forrest Gordon Clark made his first court appearance. He was originally scheduled to appear on August 9, 2018. However, he refused to leave his jail cell.[22] He was due back in court on August 17, 2018.[23] On August 17, when he appeared for the second time, which was the third attempt for his court hearing, Clark’s erratic behavior caused a judge to stop the normal proceedings. The charges were subsequently suspended so Clark’s mental health and competency could be examined. Two examinations were submitted before his next court appearance on October 10, 2018.[24] A third, "tie-breaking" examination was ordered after competing examinations were submitted. On November 28, 2018, Clark was ruled competent to assist attorneys in his defense, and the resisting arrest charges were subsequently dropped. On December 12, 2018, Clark pled not guilty to the remaining charges.[25]
On February 10, 2021, a request to lower Clark's bail was denied by a judge. The judge stated that the rejection stemmed from a concern for public safety.[26] On June 1, 2023, Forrest Clark was found not guilty of all arson charges.[27]
| Date | Acres burned (ha) | Containment | Growth (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7 | 4,000 (1,600) | N/A | ||
| Aug 8 | 6,200 (2,500) | +55% | ||
| Aug 9 | 10,236 (4,142) | +65.1% | ||
| Aug 10 | 19,107 (7,732) | +86.6% | ||
| Aug 11 | 21,473 (8,690) | +12.4% | ||
| Aug 13 | 22,714 (9,192) | +5.7% | ||
| Aug 14 | 22,986 (9,302) | +1.2% | ||
| Aug 15 | 22,986 (9,302) | +0% | ||
| Aug 16 | 22,986 (9,302) | +0% | ||
| Aug 18 | 22,986 (9,302) | +0% | ||
| Aug 24 | 22,986 (9,302) | +0% | ||
| Aug 26 | 22,986 (9,363) | +0% | ||
| Aug 27 | 23,136 (9,363) | +0.6% | ||
| Sep 13 | 23,136 (9,363) | +0% |