Small Brush Fire in Laguna Forces PCH Closure

UPDATED: About 155 firefighters are battling the small blaze. Northbound traffic is blocked at Montage Drive.

 

UPDATE: Size of burn area updated at 1:23 p.m. More details added 1:41 p.m., 2:24 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.

A small brush fire forced the closure of northbound Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach Sunday.

Police dispatchers say the closure began at Montage Drive but has since reopened. Northbound traffic still narrows to one lane.

About 155 firefighters from the Laguna Beach Fire Department at the Orange County Fire Authority are battling the small blaze, according to OCFA Public Information Officer Lynnette Round. They set up their command center at Ruby’s Diner.

The Orange County Fire Authority tweeted that the fire started at 30622 Coast Hwy.

Round said helicopters are assisting to extinguish the flames, which so far have consumed 5 acres.

“They almost have a circle on it,” she said. “They’re just putting out some hot spots.”

Some structures off of Nyes Place were briefly threatened, Round added.

Residents who live in about 20 homes on Nyes Place received a reverse 9-1-1 call to voluntarily evacuate, Round said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, she added.

One firefighter was taken to a hospital for an unspecified injury.

City News Service contributed to this report.