End Declared to Disastrous Fire Season : Environment: After one of the longest and worst such periods in the county, officials say rural areas have received enough rain to reduce danger. About 165,000 acres are reopened to public.

One of the longest and most disastrous fire seasons in Orange County history came to a close Friday, fire officials announced.

About 165,000 acres that were closed to the public since last May 10, when the fire season started, were reopened at midnight Friday with the end of the fire season.

Finally, after one of the longest fire seasons on record, the county has received enough rainfall to reduce the danger of grass and brush fires in the hazardous areas, Orange County Fire Department spokeswoman Kathleen Cha said.

Many rural areas, however, may still be subject to trespassing laws and property owner restrictions, she added.

Many are relieved to see the end of this fire season, which will go down as one of the worst in the county, although no lives were lost.

“It was a very tragic time,” Cha said.

Major devastation came late in the season in October as three arson-set blazes, fueled by gusty Santa Ana winds, ravaged parts of Laguna Beach and unincorporated areas near Anaheim Hills and off Ortega Highway. Heavy rains last winter left much growth to be consumed.

No community was hit harder by fire than Laguna Beach.

It was on Oct. 27 about 11:45 a.m. when the fire started in brush about 100 feet west of Laguna Canyon Road, a mile south of the San Diego Freeway. Pushed by Santa Ana winds, the fire roared over more than 16,680 acres and damaged or destroyed more than 400 homes in Laguna Beach, Canyon Acres, Emerald Bay and the El Moro Beach Mobile Home Park. There were no injuries, but damage was estimated at more than $400 million.

Although it did not destroy as much property as the one in Laguna Beach, the Ortega Highway fire was the county’s largest and longest of the season. It also started Oct. 27 and lasted more than four days, burning an estimated 22,000 acres and destroying 36 houses along the rural eastern edge of the county.

A North County fire that started in Anaheim Hills and spread to the unincorporated Crest de Ville community late Oct. 26 destroyed two homes and damaged 29 more.

While the fire season has ended, officials said fire safety precautions should still be practiced year-round and warned that hot, dry Santa Ana winds could create extreme fire conditions at any time.

The areas that have been reopened include the following:

* Area 1--north of Brea to the county line; between the Brea city limits and the Yorba Linda wildlife-urban area, including Chino Hills State Park; and east of the Yorba Linda wildlife-urban area to the county line.

* Area 2--south from the Riverside Freeway to O’Neill Regional Park; west from the Cleveland National Forest boundary to the following limits: Anaheim Hills city limits, Tustin city limits, Irvine city limits, Irvine Boulevard and Trabuco Road in Lake Forest; east of Rose Canyon to the Cleveland National Forest boundary; east of Dove Canyon to the Cleveland National Forest; east of Coto de Caza to the Cleveland National Forest; urban-wildlife areas between Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza and Dove Canyon and from the southern tip of Coto de Caza south to the county line.

In addition, west from the Cleveland National Forest boundary to the following limits: Mission Viejo city limits, San Juan Capistrano city limits and San Clemente city limits.

Ronald W. Caspers Regional Park is open, including the area between the Ortega Highway and Lucas Canyon Road; also included are the following areas inside Cleveland National Forest: Silverado Canyon, Williams Canyon, Modjeska Canyon and Trabuco Canyon.

* Area 3--south of Bonita Canyon Drive, Sand Canyon Avenue and the San Diego Freeway to Coast Highway; west of Laguna Canyon Road to the Newport Beach city limits.

* Area 4--east of Laguna Canyon Road to Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park; south of Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park to the Laguna Beach city limits.

Rural Areas Reopened

Approximately 165,000 acres, closed to the public since May because of potential fire hazard, reopened Friday with the official end of the fire season.

Fire Safety

* Use only fire rings and barbecue pits for any open warming or cooking fires.

* Smoking is prohibited.

* Keep matches and lighters away from children and prevent any misuse.

* Discharge of fireworks is prohibited in the wild-land areas, all unincorporated areas and in most cities within Orange County.

Source: Orange County Fire Department