Grant to help restore Laguna wilderness harmed by June wildfire
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The Laguna Canyon Foundation received a $23,553 grant to help bring back the land damaged by a June wildfire in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, it said in a news release Monday.
The money provided by the Orange County-based S. L. Gimbel Foundation Fund through The Community Foundation in Riverside will help crews reconfigure the Laguna Ridge Trail and restore native habitat in the park, according to the release.
The brushfire began June 26 and charred nearly 50 acres, leading to a four-day closure of Laguna Coast and Aliso and Wood Canyons wilderness parks. The fire also forced a months-long closure of the Laguna Ridge Trail, which is used by hikers and cyclists.
More than 240 firefighters from various agencies — including the Orange County Fire Authority, Cal Fire and the Laguna Beach, Brea, Anaheim and Fullerton fire departments — battled the flames on foot and with planes and helicopters dropping fire retardant, the Coastline Pilot reported in June.
No homes were threatened and authorities did not order any evacuations.
The Community Foundation provides grants to nonprofits in a variety of areas, including civic and environmental benefit. The mission of the S.L. Gimbel Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for people and animals, according to the release.
As part of the upcoming work, crews will plant native plants in areas destroyed by the fire and create natural barriers to ensure that trail users stay on the path, Laguna Canyon Foundation development manager Theresa Karasek wrote in an email.
Laguna Canyon Foundation, founded in 1990, works to protect the South Coast Wilderness Area, which includes Laguna Coast and Aliso and Wood Canyons wilderness parks, and enhance its trails.
Crews will also resume rerouting a portion of the trail after the fire interrupted that work.
“The old trail was steep and dangerous,” Karasek said in a follow-up interview. “We’re going to reroute it elsewhere to make it better and smoother.”
Twitter: @AldertonBryce
