Wildfires in Laguna Beach were thought to be caused by fireworks
Officials from Laguna Beach City said they believe the Rancho fire that sparked on Monday is likely to be caused by the fireworks.
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The 13-year-old was arrested this week on suspicion of illuminating fireworks that likely caused a revamp on the coast of Southern California, urging evacuation and causing power outages in the area, authorities said.
The flame, known as the Zarangcho Fire, caught fire on July 7 at about 2:06pm local time in the Hillside area of Laguna Beach, the city said in a statement. The fire burned dry brushes and vegetation in the area, growing to about four acres, threatening a nearby Canyon home, according to the Orange County Fire Department.
According to a preliminary report, the fire may have started with illegal fireworks, the Laguna Beach Police Department said in a July 8 statement. He said the flames spread along the hillsides of Rancho Laguna, making it a neighbourhood above the village area overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Police say Laguna Beach Police Rangers initially detained two boys and two boys. Officers later obtained video evidence that they said they had shown “the boy was lit up the fireworks and fled the scene.”
After further investigation, police identified the suspect as a 13-year-old boy and said they had obtained a search warrant for arrest and seizure of electronic devices. The boy was then detained on suspicion of reckless burning of a felony of a forest land.
“Because of the absence of injuries or immediate threat to the structure, Orange County Juvenile Hall will not accept suspects on the reservation,” police said. “He was edited at the Laguna Beach Police Station and released by his parents’ administrators.”
The case was filed with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for review, and there is a possibility of criminal charges being filed, police added.
Laguna Beach, a city in Tony Southern California known for its vibrant beach scene and art gallery district, is about 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. As of 2024, the city’s population is over 22,500, according to the US Census Bureau.
Laguna Beach Fire is included by July 9th
Laguna Beach Police said detectives are working with the Laguna Beach Fire Department and the Orange County Fire Department to continue investigating the origins of the firefighters. Laguna Beach Fire Chief Nico King said about 200 firefighters, five helicopters, two planes and a drone were used to fight the flames.
Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Raunagi said no injuries or damages have been reported, but the flames forced the evacuation of about 100 homes in the Arch Beach Heights area. In an update on July 7th, the mayor said a fire broke out in the Bluebird Canyon area, which was recently approved for fuel reduction work through hand crews.
In addition to evacuation, several roads have been closed and the city has reported intermittent power losses in the area. The evacuation order was lifted on July 7th at about 7:30pm, according to the city.
The 4.6 acres mapped fire was fully included by 8am on July 9th, with all closed roads reopening to traffic, the city said.
Laguna Beach officials have spent $25 million over the past few years in compliance with the 2019 fire program, the Los Angeles Times reported. Following the Palisade and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County earlier this year, city officials have updated their plans and aimed to improve fire safety.
“The effectiveness of the city’s Fuel Correction Zone (FMZ) was also clear. The vegetation was cleaned along the Ridgeline and helped slow the progress of the fire,” according to the city. “In particular, the FMZ closest to the fire has been recently approved and installed.”
Fires occur while the risk of fire increases
Laguna Beach Fire had residents enrolled after a series of flames in Los Angeles County ravaged earlier this year. According to the latest Cal Fire data, the flame was one of more than dozens of wildfires that sparked across California in recent weeks.
The fast-moving wildfire in Central California, known as the Madre Fire, has become the largest in the state so far this year. A fire broke out on July 2nd, burning a remote area in southeastern San Luis Obispo County.
As of July 9, the Madre fire had grown to over 80,600 acres, with about 62% contained, according to Cal Fire.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned on July 9 that temperatures are expected to be between 95 and 105 degrees inland. The agency said it could “promote serious fire risks” in southwestern and southwest Santa Barbara County.
“Next Tuesday to Friday, especially the dangerous heat away from the coast,” the Weather Bureau said in a post on X.
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