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Teenager arrested on suspicion of starting Laguna Beach fire with fireworks
The Rancho Fire burned a few acres near homes in Laguna Beach on Monday.
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Cal Fire
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Topline:
Laguna Beach police arrested a 13-year-old Tuesday on suspicion of starting the fire that burned a few acres of hillside near homes and led to evacuations Monday. Officials said in a news release that police used video "clearly showing a juvenile suspect lighting a firework and fleeing the scene" to identify the teen.
The case: The teenager was released to his parents, the news release said. The case was turned over to the Orange County district attorney's office for possible filing of criminal charges.
The fire: The Rancho Fire started a little after 2 p.m. Monday in the hills near Bluebird Canyon. It burned about four acres, and evacuations were ordered for several streets. Five helicopters and an airplane were employed in the firefight, and several roads were closed in the afternoon and evening Monday. All evacuations were lifted by Tuesday morning. A fire in Laguna Beach in the 1990s burned hundreds of homes.
Fireworks danger: Southern California fire officials reported massive increases in calls on the Fourth of July this year. For example, the Orange County Fire Authority told LAist it received 51 calls on July Fourth — though it couldn't say how many were related to fireworks. A typical day for the department sees about seven calls.
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