125 Acres Scorched in Blaze Started by Boy With Fireworks

A fire started by a youngster playing with fireworks on Wednesday scorched more than 125 acres of brush in the rugged hills of San Juan Capistrano, authorities said.

Flames come within 200 yards of homes, but no evacuations were ordered and no damage was reported, authorities said.

The blaze broke out about 5 p.m. near Monarch Drive and Highland Drive, said Orange County Fire Capt. Hank Raymond said. Five hours later, some 100 firefighters brought the fire under control.

The brush fire was the first significant blaze of what officials have warned is a very volatile fire season.

Although no one was injured and no structures were burned, Raymond said the fire had the “potential to cause a lot of damage.”

“We were fortunate. We had some pretty radical wind conditions and wind shifts out there. If the fire had happened earlier in the day with different wind conditions, it could have taken out between 30 to 40 homes,” Raymond said.

Along with the tricky wind currents, the captain said, the fire was in a rather inaccessible area with rugged terrain.

One resident of the area, Wesley Miller, said he “wasn’t really frightened” by the flames.

“The fire danger is always there. We try to keep the grass and leaves and vegetation cut very short.”

Fire investigators said the fire was started by a boy who was throwing firecrackers. Officials declined to identify him because of his age.

“The investigation is continuing, but we’ve talked to the boy and his parents and determined that’s how (the fire) started,” Raymond said.

Fire crew was working through the night Wednesday to “mop up” the area and extinguish smoldering embers, Raymond said.

Times staff writer Ted Johnson contributed to this report.