Category: Orange County Fire Authority

One Man Dead, One Rescued from Orange County Flood Control Channels

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Firefighters in Orange County Dec. 12 warned people to remain clear of flood control channels during rain storms after one person was found dead and another was rescued. Anaheim firefighters located the body of a transient man in the channel in the 700 block of Loara Avenue about 12:30 p.m. Dec. 11, Anaheim police…


Fullerton Passes on County Fire Plan, Will Rebuild Own Department

The City of Fullerton, California, will retain control over the city’s fire department after a heated meeting Oct. 18 ended in a 3–2 vote not to contract with the Orange County Fire Authority. A dissenter alleged the council has failed the public. The city will implement Fire Chief Adam Loeser’s plan to rebuild its fire…


7 Injured in Irvine Crash

IRVINE, Calif.—Two vehicles collided in an Irvine intersection injuring seven people and trapping multiple occupants, authorities said Oct. 31. The crash was reported at 7:52 p.m. Oct. 30 at Irvine Boulevard and Modjeska, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Firefighters used hydraulic tools to free patients from one vehicle and took seven people to…


California Sues SoCal Edison, T-Mobile for Allegedly Sparking Silverado Fire

The state forestry department has filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison and T-Mobile for allegedly causing the Silverado fire that swept through Silverado and Santiago canyons in Orange County two years ago, scorching about 12,470 acres and damaging 16 structures. In the lawsuit filed Oct. 20, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection,…


House Fire in Garden Grove Injures Firefighter

GARDEN GROVE, Calif.—An Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) firefighter suffered a burned neck while battling flames in a Garden Grove house Aug. 27. The fire was reported at 12:58 p.m. Saturday in the 12000 block of Magnolia Street, said OCFA Capt. Sean Doran. OCFA video showed thick black smoke flowing out of the house as…


Authorities: Local Coverage of Coastal Fire ‘Untrue’

Orange County sheriff and fire authorities released a joint statement June 9 disputing a recently published article by the Orange County Register that “called into question” the agencies’ response to the 200-acre Coastal fire, which destroyed 20 homes and damaged 11 others last month. Signed by Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy and Sheriff…


3 Children Hurt in Collision Near Santa Ana School

SANTA ANA, Calif.—Three children were injured on Monday, May 23, near Taft Elementary School when a man who had been asked to leave the Santa Ana campus struck them while driving away, authorities said. The 911 call came in at 8:23 a.m., said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Sean Doran. The children were taken to…


‘It Felt Like an Apocalyptic Horror Movie Set’: Fire Officials Extinguishing Coastal Fire

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif.—Nearly 48 hours after a wildfire demolished multimillion-dollar homes and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate an upscale neighborhood, authorities said the aftermath felt like “an apocalyptic horror movie set.” “As you drive up the streets, it feels like you were in this surreal environment,” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Sean Doran told…


Officials Declare Local State of Emergency Over Coastal Fire

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif.—Orange County officials have declared a local state of emergency after a fire destroyed more than 20 homes, injured one firefighter, and spread at least 200 acres in Aliso Canyon. No containment percentage was available as of 12 p.m. Thursday. “It’s been a long night for the people living in Laguna Niguel, and…


Laguna Beach Fire Prompts Evacuations, School Closures

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif.—A brush fire scorched about 145 acres in the hills of Laguna Beach on Feb. 10 causing residents in communities with multimillion-dollar homes to evacuate. The fire was reported at around 4:10 a.m. and spread quickly throughout the hillside area near Pacific Coast Highway. The fire was 5 percent contained as of 9:45…