Signs of Fire Season : About 165,000 Acres of Tinder-Like, Open Land Will Be Closed Friday Until Rains Return

With the days growing hotter and wild brush growing drier, Orange County fire officials on Friday will declare more than 165,000 acres of open land off-limits to the public.

The start of the county’s annual fire season means that hikers, campers, bikers and nature lovers must stay out of certain grassy areas until the rainy season returns. Fires can be triggered easily by an illegal campfire, fireworks or a simple spark from a starting car, County Fire Capt. Dan Young said.

“If a fire starts in the middle of nowhere, it could spread 100 acres before anyone is able to call 911,” he said.

Last season, one of the longest and most disastrous fire seasons in Orange County history, proved how easily and quickly fire can destroy, Young said. Three arson fires, fueled by Santa Ana winds, ravaged parts of Laguna Beach and unincorporated areas near Anaheim Hills and off Ortega Highway.

The Oct. 27 Laguna Beach fire roared over more than 16,000 acres and damaged or destroyed more than 400 homes in Laguna Beach, Canyon Acres, Emerald Bay and the El Moro Beach Mobile Home Park.

The Ortega Highway fire, which was the largest and longest of the season, also started on Oct. 27 and lasted for four days. It burned an estimated 22,000 acres and destroyed 36 homes along the rural eastern edge of the county.

A North County fire started in Anaheim Hills late on Oct. 26 and spread to the unincorporated community of Crest de Ville, destroying two homes and damaging 29 more.

No one has been arrested in connection with the Laguna Beach and Ortega Highway fires.

“If someone is acting suspicious in the bushes near your home and there are 40 m.p.h. winds,” Young urged, “call the Fire Department or the police.”

County crews already have been busy clearing dry brush in many danger areas, and the Fire Department has conducted a series of controlled burns over about 20,000 acres.

Crews also have checked thousands of homes for dry brush and sent warning notices to some homeowners who are in violation of the county’s fire code. If they do not remove the brush, county crews will, and the homeowner will be billed between $350 and $2,000.

Young said firefighters are hoping for the best this fire season, but preparing for the worst.

Beginning today, firefighters throughout the county will begin a series of training exercises and drills to prepare for the possibility of battling wildfires.

As of July 1, the county also will have its own firefighting helicopter.

“The helicopter isn’t going to make a difference when you have a fire the size of Laguna, but it makes a difference when that fire is still one acre,” Young said. “All three of the major fires we had last year were an eighth of an acre at one point. The helicopter can keep them at an acre.”

Even without the unusually strong winds like those that fueled the October fires, Young said, fire in brush land always poses a threat.

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“Just because there’s not 70-m.p.h. winds doesn’t mean the world is roses,” Young said. “We could easily have a fire that burns 1,000 acres and a dozen homes without any winds or unusual weather conditions.”

The following areas will be closed to the public beginning Friday:

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, and 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 except for the area between 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, San Canyon Avenue and the San Diego Freeway to Coast Highway; west of Laguna Canyon Road to the Newport Beach (Corona del Mar) 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.

County employees also will begin posting warning signs in forbidden areas today. Although violators probably will escape with a verbal warning this weekend, authorities will be able to hand out misdemeanor citations to people who venture into areas off-limits as of Friday.

Potential Fire Areas Orange County’s fire season is here. To help prevent wildfires, more than 165,000 acres of open land have been declared off-limits to the public. The Orange County Fire Department will prohibit trespassing in the following shaded areas: *Safety Suggestions Fire officials offer these fire-safety rules for visitors to wilderness areas ad parks: Use fire rings and barbecue pits for open fires. Do not smoke in hazardous areas. Keep matches and cigarette lighters away from children. Do not discharge fireworks in wilderness areas. Clear branches and tree debris a minimum of 10 feet from all chimneys. Provide spark arrester on all chimneys Clear roof of all combustible leaves and needles. Make sure address is posted and clearly visible from the street. Clear combustible vegetation such as dry weeds, brush and leaves 100 feet or more from house. Maintain clear access. Source: Orange County Fire Department