Laguna Beach Fire: Here's How Much Land the Blaze Charred as Authorities Attempt to Control the Fire

A brush fire erupted in Laguna Beach, California on Thursday, as it threatened the exclusive Emerald Bay community and prompted evacuation from the residents in the said area.

According to CBS 8, the Laguna Beach fire was reported to the authorities around 4:10 a.m. on Thursday. However, the blaze was reported to quickly spread throughout the hillside area, which is behind the upscale gated community.

Currently, the fire charred at least 150 acres of land in the hill located above the exclusive Emerald Bay community.

The fire reportedly started amid the Santa Ana wind advisory. The flames were allegedly driven by winds in the mountain terrain.

Firefighters Contain the Laguna Beach Fire

Firefighters who responded at the scene tried to control the brush fire.

Los Angeles Times noted that so far, the Laguna Beach fire is 5 percent contained, as crews battle the blaze from the ground and from the air. However, CBS 8 noted that the containment of the fire escalated to 10 percent by 3 p.m.

The outlet also noted that the focus of the fire crews is to protect Irvine Cove and Emerald Bay, which is home to some of the most expensive real estate in the country.

According to reports, at least 375 firefighters were dispatched during the height of the Laguna Beach fire. Their number was decreased to 200 by 3 p.m. due to the help of the helicopters that dropped waters on the blaze.

"They [helicopters] made significant drops to slow the fire down, and then the wind died down this morning which helped tremendously," Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Captain Steve Concialdi said.

Aside from OCFA, personnel from the Laguna Beach Fire Department also responded at the scene.

OCFA Fire Chief Brian Fennessy said that there were also 75 engine crews fighting the flames. The said engine crews were aided by Cal Fire air tankers, five hand crews, two bulldozers, and five water-dropping helicopters.

Despite the efforts to control the blaze, the National Weather Service expected overnight winds to pick up once again by 10 p.m. However, Captain Concialdi noted that they expect to make more headway by the time the winds arrive, pointing out that their bulldozers created a "significant firebreak."

Laguna Beach Fire Evacuations Lifted

As the containment of the fire continued to progress, the evacuations orders issued on the north of the Laguna Beach, south and north of Emerald Bay, and Irvine Cove were lifted, per ABC 10.

Meanwhile, state parks and fire-affected areas remain closed.

Laguna Beach Mayor Sue Kempf said that many longtime residents still remember the terror of the massive wildfire that burned through the city in 1993. The said incident reportedly damaged 400 homes.

"People have been here a long time and they're very sensitive. They're very worried," the mayor said, assuring that they have a good team and their city will get over the incident.

According to Chief Fennessy, the cause of the Laguna Beach fire is still under investigation. So far, there have been no reports of damaged properties in the area.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Crews Make Progress On Massive Brush Fire In Laguna Beach; Hundreds Evacuate - Form CBS Los Angeles