Orange County fire crews fully contain Coastal fire
The Coastal fire in Laguna Niguel is fully contained, Orange County Fire Authority officials announced Tuesday morning.
The fire that ignited May 11 and burned through 200 acres, destroying 20 multimillion dollar homes and damaging 11 others, had been secured by fire crews, OCFA officials said in a 8:36 a.m. Tweet. The blaze began near a water treatment facility along Aliso Woods Canyon at 2:44 p.m.
Two firefighters were injured while battling the blaze that drew fire personnel from throughout Orange County.
The fire forced the evacuation of about 900 homes, OCFA officials said. Residents whose houses were left intact were allowed to return home beginning Sunday. Others returned to find gutted buildings and ashes.
“While homes were destroyed, there were countless that were saved by the tireless and coordinated work of firefighters,” OCFA officials said on social media.
No residents were hurt, but two firefighters were hurt while battling the blaze. They were recovering and “doing well,” OCFA officials said.
The blaze spread quickly up the canyon toward Coronado Pointe Drive, Vista Court and Via Las Rosa. Some were told by firefighters that they had mere seconds to flee as smoke and flames consumed the hillside.
Winds fanned the flames and sent embers into palm trees, attics and crawl spaces. However, OCFA Chief Brian Fennessy noted the winds were not especially strong the day the fire started. In public comments, he attributed the explosive nature of the fire to the cumulative impact of years of drought as a result of climate change.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. There had been reports of “circuit activity” near its origin point, Southern California Edison officials said in a statement released late on May 11.