Fire burning near Laguna Niguel homes amid scorching heat wave stopped; evacuations lifted
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- The progress of Laguna Niguel’s Beacon fire was officially stopped at 5:26 p.m. Wednesday, and firefighters began tamping down hot spots within an hour.
- The blaze grew to 4 acres and resulted in the evacuation of approximately 20 homes.
- No homes burned and no injuries were reported.
Evacuation orders have been lifted for Laguna Niguel’s Beacon fire, as firefighters stopped the progress of the 4-acre burn less than a few hours after the blaze began in a residential area Wednesday afternoon.
The fire, which was reported at 3:26 p.m. near the intersection of Alcott Place and Ridgeway Avenue, caused some minor damage to fences behind some homes, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Firefighters reported no structures had been lost nor injuries sustained.
The fire’s progress was officially stopped at 5:26 p.m., and firefighters began tamping down hot spots within an hour.
The fire authority lifted all evacuation orders as of 6:33 p.m. Wednesday. Approximately 20 homes on Copps Hill Street were affected by the evacuation, while residents along Middleton Place and Alcott Place were advised to shelter in place, according to the city of Laguna Niguel.
“The response from our public safety partners was extremely well-coordinated and aggressive,” Laguna Niguel Mayor Ray Gennawey said in a statement. “On behalf of the entire Laguna Niguel City Council, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to our firefighters from the Orange County Fire Authority and our deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.”
Updates
8:15 a.m. Aug. 21, 2025: New fire information provided by the Orange County Fire Authority.
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