Small brush fire extinguished at Talbert Regional Park in Costa Mesa

Crews doused a small brush fire Tuesday morning about two hours after it broke out in Talbert Regional Park in Costa Mesa, according to authorities.

Firefighters initially had trouble getting to the blaze, which started near a homeless encampment close to Victoria Pond in the southern portion of the park, fire officials said.

Authorities think a fire being used for warmth or cooking at the encampment likely started the larger blaze.

The flames were deep into thick bushes, Costa Mesa Fire Department Capt. Chris Coates said. City fire officials asked for help from an Orange County Fire Authority water-dropping helicopter and two engines better equipped to access the tough terrain, Coates said.

At one point, about 30 firefighters were at the scene, Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.

Crews responded to the blaze about 8:30 a.m. and had it under control by about 10:30, according to fire officials.

Though the blaze covered only about 50 feet by 150 feet, the limited access meant crews had to be careful that firefighters would have an escape route in case the fire grew, according to Concialdi.

“It can blow up and it can spread quickly,” he said.

California’s nagging drought makes that all the more possible, Concialdi added.

“Even though we’ve had some rain in the last couple of months, the vegetation is still extremely dry,” he said.