Power Lines Likely Cause In 154-Acre Emerald Fire: Report

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Power lines were determined to be the most probable cause of the 154-acre Emerald Fire, the Laguna Beach Independent reported Monday.

Investigators reported their findings Saturday after a five-month probe of the wind-driven brush fire that erupted near Emerald Bay on Feb. 10.

“The most probable heat source was sparks from electrical arcing. High wind conditions and an unspecified electrical event among the three high voltage power lines caused sparks to be blown into a receptive fuel bed of vegetation,” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Sean Doran told the Laguna Beach Independent.

The large, wind-fueled brush fire known as the Emerald Fire burned 150 acres near the north of the Laguna Beach community of Emerald Bay and neighboring Irvine Cove in February.

The fire threatened multi-million dollar homes and led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents.

According to the report, Southern California Edison was not immediately available to comment.

To read more about the findings from the five month probe of the Emerald Fire, view the full article on the Laguna Beach Independent.