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Laguna Beach officials credit fuel-modification, helipads and mutual aid for averting major damage in Rancho Fire
Summary
City staff say rapid response, fuel-modification zones and nearby helipads helped stop the Rancho Fire from spreading to homes; police announced a juvenile was detained in connection with the fire.
Laguna Beach officials told the City Council the Rancho Fire, reported in the afternoon the previous day, was contained before homes were destroyed thanks to coordinated emergency response, preexisting fuel-modification work and nearby helipad support.
City emergency operations manager Sarah Lamones said the city opened its Emergency Operations Center within about 30 minutes of the first reports and staffed a care-and-reception center at the Susie Q. “We sent out multiple alerts and warnings using our various systems,” Lamones said, noting wireless emergency alerts, Nixle and AlertOC messages plus press releases and social media updates were used to keep the public informed.
Fire Chief Nico King described how crews encountered rapidly spreading vegetation fire on a steep slope at Morningside and Rancho Laguna. He said flame lengths reached about 50 feet before…
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