A fast-moving brush fire near the Orange and Los Angeles county line has crews scrambling, residents fleeing and at least one home already caught in the flames.
A wildfire tore through hillside terrain in La Habra Heights on Tuesday afternoon, prompting evacuation orders and putting several neighborhoods on alert as crews from two counties raced to contain the blaze before nightfall.
Fire Erupts Near County Line
The flames were first reported shortly after 2:30 p.m. in the 2400 block of Las Palomas Drive, a residential stretch that straddles the border between Orange and Los Angeles counties. The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded alongside the Orange County Fire Authority, pooling resources to attack the fire from multiple fronts as it moved through dry brush common to the area’s canyons and hillsides.
Officials have not yet determined what sparked the blaze, and as of Tuesday evening, no injuries had been reported among residents or first responders. By 5 p.m., fire officials estimated the burn area had grown to roughly 20 acres, a figure that could still climb as crews continue their assessment into the evening hours.
Homes Threatened as Flames Spread
While fire crews have not formally confirmed structural losses, aerial video captured during the height of the blaze showed at least one house fully engulfed, a stark image that underscored how quickly the fire moved through the hillside community. The footage circulated widely as residents and neighbors watched for updates on which homes, if any, had been spared…