Latest news with #OrangeCountyFireAuthority
Los Angeles Times
11 hours ago
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Watch: SoCal firefighters save the life of Eli, a colicky mule
Orange County firefighters came to the rescue when a 20-year-old mule named Eli appeared down for the count. The Orange County Fire Authority captured video of the Trabuco Canyon operation last week. Eli was experiencing life-threatening colic, the agency said on X. Station 18 stepped in when the mule's owners were unable to get him to stand. Footage showed the horizontal equine squirming and struggling as a firefighter and a veterinarian assisted him. A crew of firefighters then tied Eli up, flipped him, and hoisted him using a rescue device called a bipod. According to Sean Doran, a spokesperson for OCFA, that equipment was also used in World War I to roll over upside-down tanks. 'It's got this incredible capacity and strength,' he said told The Times. 'These horses obviously, or mules in this case, are no match for it.' The firefighters pulled Eli out of his stable before bringing him to his feet. After a bit, he clopped back into his stable, where he is doing much better, the authority's X post said. According to the University of Minnesota, horses and other equines are naturally prone to colic. Allowing the animal to walk around can help ease pain, the university said. Doran said that Eli, lying down, wasn't able to pass food and was at risk of his organs compressing. Had he not been hoisted upright, the colic could have been fatal, he said. Doran said he watched the rescue happen on Friday and visited Eli again on Sunday. He spoke with one of the owners, an animal lover who had owned Eli for almost all of the mule's life. Everything about the rescue was 'just goodness, pure goodness,' he said. He also said that OCFA firefighters had been trained to conduct large-animal rescues with live horses. In addition to routine rescue skills, they learn how to approach the horses and to interpret how they need to be treated depending on the situation. 'It's seamless teamwork in action,' he said.
USA Today
10-07-2025
- USA Today
13-year-old suspected of lighting fireworks that ignited Southern California brush fire
A 13-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly lighting fireworks that likely sparked a brush fire this week in coastal Southern California, prompting evacuations and causing power outages in the area, authorities said. The blaze, dubbed the Rancho Fire, ignited at about 2:06 p.m. local time on July 7 in the hillside area of Laguna Beach, the city said in a statement. The fire scorched through dry brush and vegetation in the area and grew to about four acres, threatening nearby canyon homes, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Preliminary reports said the fire may have started from illegal fireworks, the Laguna Beach Police Department said in a statement on July 8. As the blaze spread along the hillside of Rancho Laguna — a neighborhood located above the village area that overlooks the Pacific Ocean — police said witnesses reported "seeing a juvenile in the area possibly involved in setting off fireworks." Laguna Beach police rangers initially detained two juveniles who were later determined to be witnesses, not suspects, according to police. Officers later obtained video evidence that they said showed a "juvenile suspect lighting a firework and fleeing the scene." After further investigation, police said they identified the suspect as a 13-year-old boy and obtained search warrants for his arrest and the seizure of electronic devices. The boy was then taken into custody on suspicion of felony reckless burning of forest land. "Due to the absence of any injuries or immediate threat to structures, Orange County Juvenile Hall would not accept the suspect for booking," according to police. "He was processed at the Laguna Beach Police Department and released to the custody of his parents." The case will be submitted to the Orange County District Attorney's Office for review and the possible filing of criminal charges, police added. Laguna Beach, a tony Southern California city known for its vibrant beach scene and art gallery district, is about 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. As of 2024, the city has a population of more than 22,500 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 2025 got off to a deadly start: How bad will wildfire season be in the US this year? Laguna Beach fire fully contained by July 9 Laguna Beach police said detectives were continuing to work with the Laguna Beach Fire Department and the Orange County Fire Authority to investigate the fire's origin. About 200 firefighters, five helicopters, two planes, and drones were used to battle the blaze, said Laguna Beach Fire Chief Niko King. While no injuries or damages were reported, the blaze forced the evacuations of about a hundred homes in the Arch Beach Heights neighborhood, according to Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi. The fire broke out in the Bluebird Canyon area, which had been recently approved for fuel-reduction work through hand crews, the mayor said in an update on July 7. In addition to the evacuations, several roads were closed, and the city reported an intermittent loss of power in the area. The evacuation order was lifted at around 7:30 p.m. on July 7, according to the city. The fire, which was mapped at 4.6 acres, was fully contained by 8 a.m. on July 9, and all roads that had been closed were reopened to traffic, the city said. Laguna Beach officials have spent $25 million over the past several years in compliance with a 2019 fire mitigation plan, the Los Angeles Times reported. Following the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County earlier this year, city officials updated the plan and aimed to improve fire safety. "The effectiveness of the City's fuel modification zones (FMZ) was also evident, with vegetation clearing along the ridgeline helping to slow the fire's progression," according to the city. "Notably, the FMZ closest to the fire was recently approved and installed." Wildfire season: Western US braces for fiery Fourth Blaze comes amid heightened fire risk The Laguna Beach fire had put residents on edge after a series of blazes devastated parts of Los Angeles County earlier this year. The blaze was one of more than a dozen wildfires that sparked across California in recent weeks, according to the latest Cal Fire data. A fast-moving wildfire in central California, called the Madre Fire, became the largest in the state so far this year. The fire broke out on July 2 and scorched through a remote area in southeastern San Luis Obispo County. As of July 9, the Madre Fire had grown to over 80,600 acres and was about 62% contained, according to Cal Fire. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned on July 9 that high temperatures between 95 and 105 degrees were expected in inland areas. The agency noted that there was an "elevated to brief critical fire danger" for interior and southwest Santa Barbara County. "Dangerous heat possible next Tuesday through Friday, especially away from the coast," the weather service said in a post on X. "There will also be elevated fire weather concerns with an increased risk of grass fires in the mountains, deserts, and interior valleys." Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Fireworks spark Laguna beach fire, forcing hundreds from posh homes
A brush fire that erupted in a hilly Laguna Beach neighborhood on Monday afternoon was started by fireworks, officials confirmed. The blaze triggered evacuations from hundreds of posh homes, choking traffic and prompting an aggressive aerial response. The blaze, dubbed the Rancho Fire, ignited around 2:15pm in the Bluebird Canyon area near Morningside Drive and Rancho Laguna Road. For several hours, flames crept dangerously close to homes and forced nearly 100 residences in the Arch Beach Heights neighborhood to evacuate, before firefighters managed to halt the fire's forward progress around 5pm by which time around four acres had been consumed. 'We're making tremendous progress,' said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Sean Doran, praising the aerial assault that helped contain the flames. 'It was a hard aerial assault (on the fire),' he said, crediting favorable wind conditions for helping crews. No homes were damaged, Laguna Beach Fire Chief Niko King confirmed. He credited the rapid response from air and ground units, as well as assistance from neighboring departments. 'It was great we had air resources come in a few minutes,' King said. 'But this is still a very dynamic situation… We're asking people to not go to the fire and stay clear.' By evening, officials were zeroing in on a likely cause - illegal fireworks. Laguna Beach Police Chief Jeff Calvert confirmed that evidence found near the origin point pointed to fireworks as the source. Crime scene tape was placed in the area, and remnants resembling fireworks mortars were spotted on the ground. While no arrests or citations had been issued as of Monday night, fireworks are illegal in all forms in Laguna Beach. Roger Robleto, who was house-sitting at a home near the ignition point, told authorities and reporters he heard a loud explosion just before the fire started. 'I heard a boom around 1:55. It sounded like an M80,' Robleto said to the Orange County Register. 'I went out to the middle of the street and that's when I saw the big smoke and the fire. It was raging at that point … It sounded like a dragon.' Robleto also reported seeing a group of kids on e-bikes riding away from the scene shortly after the sound. The sight of smoke towering above the hillside was a shocking one for locals. 'I didn't see anything but I saw people running,' said longtime Rosalie to the Orange County Register. 'My dog started barking and then I got the order. We were lucky we left right away. There were a few cars and it only got backed up toward the bottom.' 'It's a haunting experience,' added husband Alan. 'In January after the LA fires we packed up everything, but now it was too close for comfort knowing it was just two blocks away. You have to be focused on what's most critical. That means your family, your animal's life. I ran without even taking my computer,' he added. 'The only thing I grabbed is my Tallis bag. And in it is a special note from my mother before she died.' Monday's fire comes six months after the wildfires that devastated the eastern and western flanks of Los Angeles. The fires broke out on January 7, when dry desert winds whipped over mountain passes with hurricane force, following eight months without rain. The Eaton Fire, in Los Angeles County just east of the city, devastated the community of Altadena, while the Palisades Fire leveled much of the coastal Pacific Palisades district. The fires killed 22 people, destroyed nearly 12,000 homes and caused as much as $53.8 billion in property damage, according to a report by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Brush fire prompts evacuations in Laguna Beach; investigation ongoing
First responders have stopped a brush fire that prompted evacuations in Southern California, authorities said, putting residents on edge after a series of blazes devastated the region earlier this year. The fire began in the city of Laguna Beach at about 2:15 p.m. local time on July 7 and grew to four acres, threatening nearby homes, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, though an active investigation is underway. Laguna Beach, a tony Southern California city known for its vibrant beach scene and art gallery district, is about 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. It has a population of more than 22,500 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Crews halted the fire from expanding further at 5 p.m., Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi confirmed at a news conference. Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Sean Doran said the forward progress was stopped at about four acres, the Orange County Register reported. The fire is not fully contained, with Laguna Beach Fire Chief Niko King adding that crews expect to battle the blaze for the next 24 to 48 hours. He clarified that hand crews would be working through the night to prevent reignition. "They have to go through meticulously and put out all the embers. They've lined the entire perimeter of the fire with a hose line and they're going to make sure they start working from the outside in," King said. By around 7:30 p.m. local time, the City of Laguna Beach announced that all evacuation orders due to the fire had been lifted. The city advised residents to return to their homes with caution as firefighting personnel and resources were still working in the area. The city also reported that there was intermittent loss of power in the area, which was estimated to return at about 9:30 p.m. All public roadways are open as of the evening of July 7, according to Laguna Beach Police Chief Jeff Calvert. "We're working toward containment so this fire doesn't take off again within a couple of days," King said at the news conference. Rounaghi said officials will review the situation and discuss how the city could prepare for future blazes, adding: "The question is not if but when the next wildfire happens." "We have to continue to remain vigilant and learning for best practices of how we keep everyone safe in this community," he said. Laguna Beach officials have spent $25 million over the past several years in compliance with a 2019 fire mitigation plan, the Los Angeles Times reported. Following the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County earlier this year, city officials updated the plan and aim to improve fire safety. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Laguna Beach fire prompts evacuations as investigators probe cause
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Brush fire prompts evacuations in Laguna Beach; investigation ongoing
First responders have stopped a brush fire that prompted evacuations in Southern California, authorities said, putting residents on edge after a series of blazes devastated the region earlier this year. The fire began in the city of Laguna Beach at about 2:15 p.m. local time on July 7 and grew to four acres, threatening nearby homes, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, though an active investigation is underway. Laguna Beach, a tony Southern California city known for its vibrant beach scene and art gallery district, is about 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. It has a population of more than 22,500 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Crews halted the fire from expanding further at 5 p.m., Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi confirmed at a news conference. Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Sean Doran said the forward progress was stopped at about four acres, the Orange County Register reported. The fire is not fully contained, with Laguna Beach Fire Chief Niko King adding that crews expect to battle the blaze for the next 24 to 48 hours. He clarified that hand crews would be working through the night to prevent reignition. "They have to go through meticulously and put out all the embers. They've lined the entire perimeter of the fire with a hose line and they're going to make sure they start working from the outside in," King said. By around 7:30 p.m. local time, the City of Laguna Beach announced that all evacuation orders due to the fire had been lifted. The city advised residents to return to their homes with caution as firefighting personnel and resources were still working in the area. The city also reported that there was intermittent loss of power in the area, which was estimated to return at about 9:30 p.m. All public roadways are open as of the evening of July 7, according to Laguna Beach Police Chief Jeff Calvert. "We're working toward containment so this fire doesn't take off again within a couple of days," King said at the news conference. Rounaghi said officials will review the situation and discuss how the city could prepare for future blazes, adding: "The question is not if but when the next wildfire happens." "We have to continue to remain vigilant and learning for best practices of how we keep everyone safe in this community," he said. Laguna Beach officials have spent $25 million over the past several years in compliance with a 2019 fire mitigation plan, the Los Angeles Times reported. Following the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County earlier this year, city officials updated the plan and aim to improve fire safety. See California wildfires map US Wildfire, smoke map
