The Emerald Fire, which broke out early Thursday in the brush-covered hills of Southern California, grew to nearly 150 acres and temporarily forced a mandatory evacuation in the Laguna Beach area, fire officials said.
The blaze was first reported around 4 am, and an immediate evacuation order was issued around 6 am for Irvine Cove and north and south Emerald Bay.
Areas closer to downtown Laguna Beach were issued evacuation warnings.
By 3 pm, the Emerald Fire was 10 percent contained and the evacuation order had been lifted, leaving an evacuation warning in effect for all areas, according to the Laguna Beach government resource.
The Laguna Beach Police Department told residents that “if at any time a person feels threatened, evacuate immediately; do not wait for an official notification.”
Orange County Fire Authority Brian Fennessy said at a 9:30 am news conference that the blaze did not explosively grow in size, but mapping improved.
“We are working to keep the fire east of Emerald Canyon. The fire’s hung up a bit below Emerald Canyon at this time,” Fennessy said, adding the flames are moving north.
“Homes are currently threatened with the possibility of more structures threatened if the fire spreads,” the city said in a news release.
Fennessy noted that the blaze wasn’t surprising due to the extreme heat with temperatures in the 80s in Orange County, dry weather and Santa Ana winds whipping through the area.
“I’m very comfortable where we are at this time and keeping the fire’s growth to a minimum,” Fennessy said.
Approximately 375 firefighters were working to contain the fire along with 10 strike teams of fire engines, five helicopters and four hand crews, the Orange County Fire Authority said.
No structures are damaged and there have been no reports of civilian or firefighter injuries, Fennessy said.
I thanked the community of Emerald Bay for creating “defensible space, allowing us a better opportunity to protect your home.”
Defensible space, a buffer between property and surrounding woodland and vegetation, is crucial in fire-prone areas of California.
As a result, “the fire laid down as it should,” Fennessy said.
At an earlier news conference Thursday, Fennessy praised the “robust response” by multiple fire agencies in the area in preventing the fire from exploding further.
He said this is the only fire burning in California, meaning first responders are “resource rich” in targeting the blaze.
I have noted the last time a fire tore through the area was in 1993. Many structures were destroyed.
The Pacific Coast Highway was briefly closed in both directions but was re-opened before noon.
It’s not clear how the blaze started.
The fire comes as a heat advisory is in place for Orange County through Sunday and a high wind warning in the region through Thursday afternoon.
www.nbcnews.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism