Laguna Niguel Coastal Fire destroys 20 homes and more evacuated

Laguna Niguel Coastal Fire destroys 20 homes and more evacuated.

Authorities say the fast-moving wildfire south of Los Angeles has burned 20 high-priced houses and prompted hundreds of inhabitants to flee. 

According to media Los Angeles, the Coastal Fire started in scrub between Laguna Niguel and Laguna Beach communities just before 3 p.m. local time Wednesday and swiftly moved to residential neighborhoods.

During a Thursday evening news conference, Orange County Fire Authority division commander Shane Sherwood said the fire has consumed 200 acres and is 15 percent controlled.

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Sherwood said two firemen were taken to the hospital and then discharged. There have been no more injuries or fatalities recorded.

According to Sherwood, the fire has damaged 11 properties and the ones that were destroyed. 

According to Virgil Asuncion, head of police services for Laguna Niguel, an estimated 900 Laguna Niguel residents are presently under evacuation orders.

Asuncion said, “We know we’ve lost several houses.” “This is horrible and will have far-reaching consequences for our whole community. We’re here to help both you and the city.”

Regulators are still investigating the cause of the incident, according to Sherwood. 

Still, Southern California Edison revealed that it had reported “circuit activity” in the area where the fire broke out as it erupted to state officials.

Officials said the fire started as a 50-by-50-foot grass fire on Wednesday afternoon. 

Still, it quickly increased in size, assisted by coastal gusts, and headed toward hillside residences with views of the Pacific. 

As a result, at least five multimillion-dollar homes were utterly destroyed. One of them was a $10 million home.

Officials said the area’s rugged topography made running hose lines and getting ground staff where they needed to go challenging. 

Fixed-wing aircraft and water-dropping helicopters were utilized to drop fire retardants.

Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett stated, “We have the whole region focused on this fire right now to make sure we have every fire engine available to put this fire out.”

During a press conference on Wednesday night, Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy said, “Unfortunately, I believe this is what we will be facing in the next weeks and years. Because the foliage is so dry, it doesn’t take much for the fire to grow out of hand and spread rapidly.”