LAGUNA BEACH : Grass Fire Burns Near Old Homes

Authorities were investigating the cause of a blaze Sunday that blackened 2 acres of dry grass and threatened two old wooden homes when flames came as close as 100 feet before firefighters extinguished them.

The fire began about 2 p.m. on the western slope of a grassy hill, burning away from a row of old wooden homes a few yards away near Laguna Canyon Road.

Police blocked the northbound lanes of Laguna Canyon Road at Woodland Drive at 2:44 p.m., causing traffic to back up for at least a mile. The road was opened again about one hour later.

About 25 firefighters were able to surround the flames within half an hour and bring the blaze under control. They spent another hour dousing the charred, smoking ground with water.

Fire officials said they were able to contain the flames quickly, in part because there was no wind.

The cause of the fire was under investigation Sunday, but Laguna Beach Deputy Fire Chief Richard Dewberry said he does not believe an arsonist is to blame.

Fire officials and residents said the fire might have been caused accidentally by children who often play along the steep slope. Officials were also investigating the possibility that the fire was started by sparks from a nearby power line.

Firefighters said this area of the hills behind Laguna Beach runs a high risk of burning because of the drought-parched grass. When the alarm sounded at firehouses Sunday, crews responded from three different fire departments: Laguna Beach, San Clemente and Orange County.

Although the fire was stopped quickly, residents said the sight of flames so close to their homes--which are nestled in a tree-lined, grassy area--was frightening.

“My house is made out of termites,” said artist Lin Carr, speaking of her two-story wooden home. “It would burn pretty quickly.

“All my paintings are in my house. You can imagine how I feel,” she said, standing near one of two firetrucks positioned to protect her house.

Carr dialed 911 to call firefighters when she said the flames “were shooting way up,” raising her hand to indicate their height.

Meanwhile, resident Laura Mercer snapped photographs of the burned area and some of the firefighters near her house.

Mercer said the flames “took off fast” after they started near the back of a home on Victory Walk, a dirt pathway. Mercer, mentioning the recent devastating fire in Oakland, said the fire on Sunday “is enough to make you quiver a little bit.”