Rancho Fire Reaches 95% Containment; Teenage Boy Arrested As Suspect

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Police arrested a 13-year-old boy on suspicion of starting the 4.6-acre Rancho Fire by playing with fireworks in Laguna Beach, threatening homes in the area, forcing residents to flee and triggering road closures.

The youth was arrested after Laguna Beach Police officers received video evidence of the teen lighting a firework and fleeing the scene, police said. The fire triggered an immediate emergency response, with 200 joint-agency firefighters attacking the steep canyon blaze by air and foot.

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the Rancho Fire was expected to reach 95 percent containment, Laguna Beach City officials said.

The seaside community perched between the Pacific Ocean and the San Joaquin Hills has a history of catastrophic wildfires, dating back to the 1993 Laguna Fire that destroyed hundreds of homes. The city has a strict ban on fireworks.

The 13-year-old was charged with starting the Rancho Fire, which broke out at 2 p.m. Monday before forward progress was halted and evacuation orders were lifted that evening.

A neighbor told KTLA that he was doing yard work when he heard two explosions, and ten minutes later, he spotted smoke.

The blaze broke out at around 2:15 p.m. near Rancho Laguna Road and Morningside Drive and moved uphill, driven by the thick brush, fire authorities said. Fire crews were positioned to protect structures along Summit Drive and at Ensenada Avenue and Miramar Street, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

The progress of the blaze was halted just before 5:15 p.m. Monday, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Sean Doran said.

Laguna Beach Fire Department Chief Niko King praised the Orange County Fire Authority and neighboring departments for helping.

"It was great we had air resources come in a few minutes," King said. "But this is still a very dynamic situation... We're asking people to not go to the fire and stay clear."

An evacuation order was issued for residents on Summit Drive and La Mirada, Katella and Baja streets, according to city officials. An evacuation warning was in place for the area south of Del Mar in Arch Beach Heights.

Just after 7:30 p.m. Monday, officials announced that the evacuation orders were lifted but urged residents to exercise caution while returning home.

An evacuation center was set up at the Community and Susi Q Center at 380 Third St.

Some temporary closures were also lifted including the northbound lanes on Pacific Coast Highway at Crown Valley Parkway and southbound lanes at Broadway.

Laguna Canyon Road heading into Laguna Beach was also reopened on Monday evening.

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• Firefighters ID Possible Cause Behind Rancho Fire In Laguna Beach; Evacuation Orders Updated
• Laguna Beach Fire Map: See Rancho Fire Perimeter, Evacuation Areas