Clouds Keep Holiday Cool, Will Be Lingering

Unseasonably overcast weather, which helped give Orange County one of its safest Independence Day celebrations ever, is predicted to continue through the weekend, forecasters said.

“The clouds are going to continue along the immediate coastline,” said Steve Burback, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times. He added that the cloud banks may hang over county beaches well into next week, with only patches of intermittent sunshine.

Todd McKenzie, a lifeguard supervisor at San Clemente, had a quick summation for the weather: “This is June gloom, and it’s back already--in July.”

County officials said the weather was among the factors that made the Fourth of July holiday one of the most trouble-free in recent years.

“Amazingly slow,” said Huntington Beach Fire Capt. Chuck Burney. “It was surprising.”

The weather itself also turned out to be surprising for this time of year.

“This is the worst early July weather I’ve seen,” said David Ruger, a park ranger at Crystal Cove State Park. “This kind of weather is usually typical for June. But now it’s going into July.”

Weather forecaster Burback said the culprit is a high-pressure area over the Pacific Ocean, which is causing cloud banks to hover near the shore, blanking out the sun.

“Once you get inland into Orange County, the chances for sunshine are better,” he noted.

Fire officials said the cool weather--combined with increased fire and police patrols and a high-profile public relations campaign--contributed to Thursday’s low-key holiday.

Fireworks-related incidents were down, but there were three structure blazes, firefighters said.

In Anaheim, fireworks caused an apartment building blaze in the 2700 block of West Yale Avenue shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday, firefighters said. The blaze caused $50,000 in damage, officials said.

Two families in the apartment building had to be evacuated and were put up in local motels by the Red Cross, said Judy Ioconne, a spokeswoman for that agency.

In Cypress, a $35,000 blaze in the 5100 block of Saratoga Street occurred at 1:15 a.m. Friday. Fireworks were blamed. The Orange County Fire Department reported that fireworks of undetermined origin ignited the roof and attic of a single-family house. There were no injuries.

In El Toro, fireworks were blamed in a roof fire at a house in the 21000 block of Yellowstone Lane about 9:30 p.m. Thursday. Damage was estimated at $200, firefighters said.

On the Balboa Peninsula, where holiday visitors annually clog the narrow streets, Newport Beach police arrested 127 people over the holiday, Lt. Tim Newman said.

Even so, he added, the tourists crushing onto the popular beaches were relatively peaceful. “Officers described the crowds as a little more mellow than last year,” Newman said.

Police said the most serious incident on Balboa Peninsula occurred Thursday afternoon, when a man allegedly fired a handgun at a family when they accused him of stealing a car stereo.

After he fired the shot, which hit the ground, the man fled, police said. As he ran along Ocean Front Drive, gun in hand, a fast-growing crowd of people pursued him, police said.

The man shot at the growing crowd of pursuers as he ran, police said. He was finally brought down by about 20 people, who held him until officers arrived.

The suspect, identified as Jamie R. Rothwell Jr., 22, of Costa Mesa, was held at Newport Beach City Jail on suspicion of assault and battery, police said.

No injuries were reported from the shots, police said.

In Santa Ana, police reported dozens of shots fired into the air by Fourth of July revelers, Lt. Earl Porter said, but no injuries were reported.

“We were backed up all night,” Porter said Friday morning. “We’re still answering some of them.”