Laguna Beach Considers Non-Disclosure Agreement Amid Coastal Fire Probe

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — The Laguna Beach City Council will consider entering into a non-disclosure agreement with county and state agencies as the inter-agency investigation into the Coastal Fire's cause continues.

On Tuesday, Laguna Beach councilmembers will discuss whether or not to authorize the agreement with the Safety and Enforcement Division of the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Orange County Fire Authority, and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, according to a city staff report.

According to the staff report, the non-disclosure agreement is designed to allow for the "confidential sharing" of information between the agencies as they continue to investigate the cause of the Coastal Fire.

Firefighters secured complete containment of the Coastal Fire after working in hot canyon weather for six days, fire officials said. The fire burnt through roughly 200 acres of brush and destroyed 10 homes in the Coronado Pointe community in Laguna Niguel after initially erupting in Laguna Beach May 11.

The fire was dubbed the Coastal Fire by authorities, and the cause remains under investigation.

Southern California Edison reported to the California Public Utilities Commission that a grid in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park experienced "circuit activity" at the same time the fire ignited, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Laguna Niguel homeowners in Coronado Pointe filed a lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court that asserts the Coastal Fire was caused by SoCal Edison's negligence and failure to clear vegetation away from its power lines.