Laguna Beach fire grows to more than 250 acres; thousands evacuate

LOS ANGELES – A wind-driven brush fire in Laguna Beach grew to more than 250 acres Saturday evening, prompting the evacuation of thousands from nearby homes and prompting concerns the blaze could spread further.

Mandatory evacuations are in effect for 1,500 residents of Top of the World, a Laguna Beach neighborhood, as well as for 2,100 homes in Aliso Viejo, said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Tony Bommarito.

“The biggest battle has been the thick brush that hasn’t burned in over 100 years, and the erratic winds,” Bommarito said. He said six air tankers and four helicopters had been enlisted to fight the blaze.

He said 400 firefighters were on scene, assembled from many agencies around the region. By 7 p.m. Saturday the fire was zero percent contained.

“There will be firefighters out there all night and all day tomorrow,” Bommarito said.

The fire broke out shortly after 1:30 p.m. Saturday below the Top of the World scenic lookout point and behind Soka University of America, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

The flames chewed through brushed left bone dry by years of drought conditions across Southern California. The region saw a devastating fire season last year, with homes lost from San Diego and Bel-air to Sylmar and Montecito. The Thomas fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties made history as the largest on record in California.

Experts have warned that the continued dry conditions make more big fires likely, and the Laguna blaze is shaping up to be one of the biggest in months.

The fire was burning in the hills above Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo. It was consuming open space but moving toward hillside communities and suburban subdivisions.

Costa Mesa High School’s prom at Soka University was postponed a week because of the fire, school officials said.

As firefighters battled the flames, airplanes were dropping fire retardant. But erratic winds were frustrating firefighting efforts.

“Spot fires starting and pushed by canyon winds,” read a tweet from the fire authority’s public information office.

An evacuation center was set up at the Susi Q center in Laguna Beach. A Red Cross shelter was also opened at Aliso Niguel High School in Aliso Viejo.

There have been no reports of damaged structures, and one report of a minor injury to a firefighter’s leg.