Laguna Beach Wildfire Sparked by Youth

Thousands of Laguna Beach Residents
Forced to Evacuate

The recent 175-acre wildfire in Laguna Beach was sparked by a juvenile, according to the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA).

The wind-driven Aliso Fire, which began June 2 and forced thousands to evacuate, was accidentally started by a boy, said OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi.

Playing with Fire

While the boy admitted to starting the fire, no further details were disclosed. Also unclear is whether or not the youth will be facing charges. His age and the exact manner the fire was started were not disclosed.

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The fire forced residents in two Laguna Beach neighborhoods to temporarily evacuate, along with a number of Aliso Viejo residents. Costa Mesa High School was forced to postpone its prom by one week.

All evacuation orders were lifted the day after the fire broke out, and five days later, the Aliso Fire was fully contained. No structures were damaged. Five firefighters were treated for minor injuries.

Acres of Thick Brush

The blaze chewed through 175 acres of thick brush. With brush fires, fire crews often remain for days after active flames have been extinguished to watch for flare-ups and help park and wilderness agencies restore hiking trails.

And they also help prepare the area for potential flooding caused by the loss of trees and ground cover.

Sources:

Featured Image: Creative Commons Photo by Orange County Archives

CBS Los Angeles

Los Angeles Times