Crews battled a rapidly growing wildfire outside Los Angeles at night that authorities said destroyed more than 20 expensive homes and forced evacuations, CBS Los Angeles reported. The fire, now known as the Coastal Fire, broke out in the bushes between the towns of Laguna Nigel and Laguna Beach just before 3pm local time and quickly spread to residential areas.
By 11 p.m., the blaze had engulfed 195 acres. There was a zero limit.
No casualties were reported.
The cause was not known, but Edison in Southern California revealed that he reported to government officials about “chain activity” in the area where the fire broke out as it erupted.
Officials said the flames began as a 50- to 50-foot vegetation fire, but grew rapidly, aided by ocean winds, and moved to high-dollar hilly properties overlooking the Pacific Ocean. At least five million-dollar homes were burned. One was a $ 10 million mansion.
Firefighters work to extinguish the flames during a forest fire on May 11, 2022 in Laguna Nigel, California Marcio J. Sanchez / AP
Officials said the steep terrain in the area made it difficult to lay hoses and send ground crews where they needed to go. Fixed-wing planes launching fire retardants and helicopters throwing water were used.
“The whole region is focused on this fire right now to make sure we have all the fire trucks in the area to put out the fire,” said Orange County Lisa Bartlett.
Orange County Fire Chief Brian Fenesi told a news conference Wednesday night: “Unfortunately, I think we will experience this in the next few weeks and years. The vegetation is so dry that it doesn’t take long for the fire to run out and burn very quickly. ”
Laguna Beach High School students were evacuated from their after-school activities.
A firefighter was working to extinguish the flames of a forest fire on May 11, 2022 in Laguna Nigel, California. Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP
Laguna Mayor Nigel Elaine Jenawi said 25 adults, two children and five pets were waiting at an evacuation center on Wednesday night.
CBS Los Angeles reported that a cat was rescued from one of the homes earlier in the day.
Firefighters also said they heard what they thought was an explosion of ammunition in one of the burning houses.
A video shared on social media shows huge streams of smoke.
The fire in the area of Laguna Niguel / Laguna Beach is definitely getting bigger and is being pushed out by the strong winds at the moment #KTLA @KTLA pic.twitter.com/ge2Nhiv024
– Tim Wheaton (@TheTimWheaton) May 11, 2022. More
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