Bolsa Chica Fire Damages Wetlands, Threatens Homes

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — Over 60 acres of Bolsa Chica wetlands burned Sunday in Huntington Beach, in what the habitat Land Trust called a "harrowing day."

According to the Huntington Beach Fire Department, the brush fire began Sunday afternoon after igniting south of Warner Avenue east of Pacific Coast Highway.

Flames threatened multi-million dollar homes in the Brightwater neighborhood. Firefighters stopped the forward progress about 100 yards away from the residences, the department said.

At least 20 units of apparatus were dispatched along with water-dropping helicopters, the department said.

"Thanks to the men and women of the Huntington Beach Fire Department and coordinating agencies, the fire is out," Kim Kolpin of the Land Trust reported in a statement.

"We must now assess the damage to the Reserve and what it will take to restore the burned acreage," Kim Kolpin says. "Our Growing Space plant nursery was spared by the flames, thanks to the careful planning and maintenance we strictly maintain."

Firefighters reached full containment around 7 p.m., the department said. Firefighters remained on scene throughout the night to mop up any hotspots. No one was injured, and the cause of the fire remained under investigation.

According to Koplin, volunteers will do the planting and tending every month. Faced with the daunting task of helping the wildlands recover, she added that the group "will get through this."

For information on how to volunteer, visit: bolsachica.org