Anaheim Hills Fire Blackens 20 Acres; Homes Are Spared

Fed by warm summer temperatures and gusts of wind, a brush fire blackened more than 20 acres in Anaheim Hills on Sunday afternoon, threatening but not damaging homes and causing minor injuries to two firefighters.

Anaheim Fire Chief Jeff Bowman said that shifting 35-m.p.h. winds and temperatures in the mid-80s helped fuel the fire that began on a hilltop near Twin Peaks Circle around 2 p.m.

Flames came within 30 yards of one house, and nearby residents grabbed water hoses and began to remove valuables from their homes.

“My son jumped on the roof with the hose and was watering it down when the firemen came and took over,” said Kathy Burns, whose home on Coral Circle was threatened by the fire.

A resident on Camino Grande watched the blaze with his dog on a leash as firefighters held the flames 100 feet above his house.

“We’ve got everything ready and packed in the cars,” said Ian Gilson. “We’re not taking any chances.”

More than 100 firefighters from the Anaheim and Orange County fire departments responded. A water-dropping helicopter from the Anaheim Police Department was also used. Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion.

Bowman, who lives near the site of the fire, was on his way home when he spotted the smoke. He said the exact cause of the fire had not yet been established, but added, “Fires like these are usually started by people on off-road vehicles or kids playing. Rarely do they begin naturally.”

Bowman also said firefighters would stay overnight to make sure that no fires began from embers.