BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS Bird causes Crystal...

BRIEFLY IN

THE NEWS

Bird causes Crystal Cove brush fire

A small brush fire that started after a bird flew into power lines

burned through El Moro Canyon in Crystal Cove State Park on

Wednesday.

It started just after 11 a.m., about two miles northeast of the

trailhead parking lot near Pacific Coast Highway, after the power

lines fell into dry brush, said Capt. Steve Miller, Orange County

Fire Authority spokesman.

Units from the Newport Beach and Laguna Beach fire departments

also initially responded, but the Orange County Fire Authority took

over with a helicopter that dropped water on the flames.

Park rangers evacuated the area, which is popular with mountain

bikers, and closed the park until they received the all-clear from

fire officials.

The fire did not threaten any structures, Miller said, and

students at El Morro Elementary School were not affected.

Firefighters had the flames under control just after noon. A total

of 1.5 acres burned.

-- Marisa O’Neil