Firefighters Gain Ground On 150-Acre Brush Fire In OC

LAGUNA BEACH (CBSLA) — Firefighters Sunday were gaining an upper hand on a brush fire in Orange County that spurred mandatory evacuations.

The Aliso fire began Saturday in Aliso Woods Canyon and spurred the evacuation of 2,000 homes at its peak. At last word, the fire was said to have scorched 150 acres, and was at 40 percent containment. 130 homes are still evacuated.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered in Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo. However, the evacuations were lifted late Saturday for Aliso Viejo.

No structures have burned, and at least one firefighter sustained an injury described as minor.

"It's scary. Very, very scary. But we got out. You are told to get out," an evacuated Laguna Beach resident told CBSLA's Joy Benedict.

They call the area of Laguna Beach that was evacuated Top of the World. As the homes line the ridge above Woods Canyon Park, it was the other side by Soka University where the fire started and quickly spread.

About 400 firefighters worked all night Saturday and Sunday.

"It looks like the fire department and police department did a great job," said neighbor Troy Lee. "Stoked. Me and my wife high-fived each other this morning that our house is still here."

Getting containment in the type of brush involved wasn't easy so they came through with a bulldozer first followed by hand crews and finally firefighters to lay down the hose.

"Up high it's fairly short and it was easy work," said firefighter Dean Snipes from Calfire San Diego. "Once you got down deep into the canyons it was about 15-foot tall."

Thankfully the weather cooperated. The flames calmed down and so did nerves. Although far from in the clear, the community is confident now they are in good hands.