7 House Fires Usher In ‘Burning Season’ : Danger: Laguna Beach woman is killed. Six blazes occur in Anaheim, where 2 homes are gutted, but no one is injured.

At least seven house fires broke out in Orange County within 24 hours, marking the beginning of what firefighters described Wednesday as the “burning season.”

Residents on Blumont Street in Laguna Beach on Wednesday mourned the death of a neighbor whose house became engulfed in flames apparently ignited by a dining room heater.

The woman, whose identification was withheld pending dental record examination, was described by neighbors as “the kindest person.” Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, she brought presents such as wreaths or plants to every family on the block, said Gay Pivaroff, who has lived across from the woman for the last 18 years.

“She takes care of everybody and their dogs,” Pivaroff said.

The woman’s golden retriever also died in the fire, which broke out at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

In Anaheim, a family of three was left homeless after their house in the 200 block of Starfire Street was scorched when sparks from a chimney without a spark arrester ignited the roof, fire Investigator Mike Doty said.

The blaze, at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, was among six Anaheim fires this week that left two homes gutted and caused more than $250,000 damage. No injuries were reported in any of the fires.

In one of those, a mobile home in the 700 block of Romneya Drive went up in flames at 4 a.m. Wednesday after the family left town for Thanksgiving, Doty said. The cause of the fire is not definite, but Doty said it apparently was caused by a lighted cigarette left in a bedroom.

“They will get through the holiday without the shock that they lost everything,” Doty said.

Four unrelated fires elsewhere in Anaheim on Tuesday destroyed sections of two homes, an apartment complex, a recycling center and a garage.

The Laguna Beach fire not only saddened neighbors but rekindled fear in the quiet cul-de-sac situated at the fringes of Mystic Hills, one of the hardest hit areas during that city’s fires last year.

“We were all a little concerned, since the Santa Ana was blowing last night,” Battalion Chief Joe McClure said. Firefighters had to raise a “water curtain” around the property to protect nearby structures, he said.

David Sabaroff, a Laguna Beach resident who lost his home in last October’s fire and who has rebuilt, said that Tuesday night, “I was on my way home when I saw fire just over the hill. My first thought was, ‘God, I hope it’s under control.’ ”

Hours later, Sabaroff learned that his neighbor’s body had been found.

“We’re all heartbroken,” he said.

Firefighters said the risk of house fire is greatest from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve for several reasons, including seasonal Santa Ana winds, a dry climate and the pursuit of warmth.

“It’s cold outside, and people think ‘Oh, we’ll light a fire and snuggle around it,’ ” Orange County Fire Capt. Dan Young said. “Well, that’s all wonderful, but it’s also extremely dangerous. If you’re not careful, you can spark a fire.”

Accidental fires are also common among transients and low-income families who use hibachis and portable stoves for warmth, Young said. Not only can they start a fire, they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Starting next month, Christmas trees will become major fire hazards, Young said. An average Christmas tree can “burn in a flash” and ignite a house in seconds.

“That means a smoke detector isn’t going to help very much,” Young said. “All the rules change around this time of the year, when fires tend to be more devastating and result in more injuries.”

Rain is helpful to prevent the spread of fire, Young said, but none is predicted for the rest of the week.

“I can remember at least eight recent Thanksgiving dinners I’ve had to spend at fire camps,” Young said. “I can assure you that our Fire Department will be much more active” today.