Karmactive Staff
A brush fire erupted Monday afternoon in Laguna Beach, forcing hundreds to evacuate as flames threatened nearby homes. The Rancho Fire started around 2:15 p.m. on July 7, 2025, near Rancho Laguna Road and Morningside Drive, quickly spreading uphill through thick vegetation.
Fireworks are the suspected cause of the blaze, with evidence found at the ignition site. All fireworks are illegal in Laguna Beach due to the high fire risk in the area.
“We know it’s not a question of if but when the next wildfire happens, and certainly today is a perfect example of that,” said Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi.
The fire burned 4-5 acres before firefighters stopped its forward progress around 5 p.m. By 7:30 p.m., all evacuation orders were lifted, allowing residents to return home. No injuries or damage to structures were reported.
Evacuation orders affected residents on La Mirada Street, Katella Street, Summit Drive, and Baja Street, with a warning issued for areas south of Del Mar in Arch Beach Heights. About 100 homes were evacuated. A temporary shelter opened at the Community and Susi Q Center for displaced residents.
The firefighting effort included four helicopters, one fixed-wing aircraft, and multiple ground crews. Helicopters collected water from nearby sources while ground teams protected threatened homes.
Laguna Beach’s fire prevention strategies played a key role in containing the blaze quickly. The city has invested over $25 million in wildfire prevention since 2019, including regular vegetation thinning in areas like where the fire started.
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“We think we’ve made the right kind of progress so far,” City Manager Dave Kiff told reporters. He credited both the rapid response from partners like the Orange County Fire Authority and the city’s safety improvements.
Special water infrastructure installed in the hills allowed firefighting aircraft to refill quickly and make more frequent water drops, crucial when fighting fires in difficult terrain.
The limited impact of the Rancho Fire contrasts sharply with the 1993 Laguna Fire, which destroyed nearly 400 homes in the same region. That fire was driven by strong Santa Ana winds, while Monday’s fire occurred during milder wind conditions.
Fire Chief Niko King said crews would remain at the scene for 24-48 hours to ensure complete containment. “They have to go through meticulously and put out all the embers,” King explained. “They’ve lined the entire perimeter of the fire with a hose line and they’re going to make sure they start working from the outside in.”
The fire temporarily closed roads on Pacific Coast Highway and Laguna Canyon Road and caused power outages. Southern California Edison expected to restore power by 9:30 p.m. Monday evening.
This incident highlights California’s worsening fire season. According to Cal Fire, nearly 4,000 wildfires have burned more than 182,000 acres statewide in 2025 so far – up from 3,300 fires burning 76,000 acres at the same time last year.
For communities in wildland-urban interface zones like Laguna Beach, the threat is constant. The city continues to enhance community resilience, improve evacuation protocols, and maintain aggressive vegetation management. The successful containment of the Rancho Fire shows how preparedness and quick response can effectively prevent potential disasters in high-risk areas.
Mayor Rounaghi noted that city officials will continue reviewing their wildfire response strategies to strengthen fire safety measures. “We have to continue to remain vigilant and learning for best practices of how we keep everyone safe in this community.”
