Below is a running digest on Orange County fires and school closures from 2022. For newer updates, visit newsroom.ocde.us/oc-fire-updates. For official information on local fires, evacuations and road closures, be sure to follow the Orange County Fire Authority on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Updated at 12:20 p.m. on May 17, 2022
Fire Authority announces the 100 percent containment of Coastal Fire in Laguna Niguel
The Orange County Fire Authority announced that the Coastal Fire in Laguna Niguel has reached 100 percent containment as of Tuesday morning. The agency thanked fire departments in the county and resources from outside of the county for assisting it in putting out the vegetation fire that sparked on Wednesday, May 11. Fueled by thick brush, strong wind and steep topography, the blaze destroyed 20 homes and damaged 11.
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Updated at 6:23 p.m. on May 11, 2022
Capistrano will continue moving Moulton Elementary classes as Costal Fire in Laguna Niguel grows
As the Coastal Fire reaches 200 acres in size with a 15 percent containment rate, the Capistrano Unified School District announced that Moulton Elementary School students will continue to receive their lessons at Wood Canyon Elementary School on Friday.
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Updated at 9:01 a.m. on May 11, 2022
Capistrano moves Moulton Elementary classes as Coastal Fire in Laguna Niguel continues
As firefighters continue to work on the Coastal Fire in Laguna Niguel, which has reached an estimated 199 acres, the Capistrano Unified School District has moved classes at Moulton Elementary School to Wood Canyon Elementary School.
The Laguna Beach Unified School District is closely monitoring the fire. Based on the news being shared by the Orange County Fire Authority and current conditions, the school district and its office will remain open.
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Updated at 5:34 p.m. on Feb. 10, 2022
Laguna Beach says all schools will reopen on Friday as Emerald Fire containment reaches 20 percent
With firefighters continuing to report progress on the Emerald Fire, the Laguna Beach Unified School District said all of its schools and facilities would reopen on Friday.
As of 5 p.m. on Thursday, the Emerald Fire had burned about 145 acres and was 20 percent contained.
Evacuation orders had been lifted for the communities of North Laguna Beach, Emerald Bay north and south, and Irvine Cove. But Orange County Parks and California State Parks remained closed in fire-affected areas.
Approximately 350 firefighters were working to halt the brush fire, including 10 strike teams and four hand crews, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Five helicopters were also supporting the effort.
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Updated at 12:55 p.m. on Feb. 10, 2022
Laguna Beach Unified announces school closures in response to Emerald Bay brush fire
The Laguna Beach Unified School District has announced that all of its schools will be closed on Thursday as firefighters battled a brush fire that broke out in the city’s Emerald Bay community.
According to the Orange Fire Authority’s Twitter account, a call came in at 4:09 a.m. reporting a vegetation fire that later expanded from seven acres to 145 acres. With the blaze threatening nearby homes, authorities were requesting resources and additional strike teams from throughout Orange County. No injuries or damage has been reported.
The Laguna Beach Police Department issued an immediate evacuation order for Irvine Cove and all of Emerald Bay, and sections of Coast Highway were temporarily closed to traffic. Laguna Beach Unified officials said El Morro Elementary, Top of the World Elementary, Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School would all remain closed on Thursday.
“The safety of our students is the number one priority in LBUSD, and we will provide updates as we gain further information,” the district said on its webpage. “Please stay safe.”
As usual, follow the Orange County Fire Authority’s official Twitter feed for the latest fire updates.