A massive brush fire fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and hot temperatures erupted in Laguna Beach, prompting an evacuation order for hundreds of residents along the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Emerald Fire, first reported at 4 a.m. on Thursday, has burned through an estimated 145 acres on a hillside above the gated community Emerald Bay, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
Flames and smoke could be seen from Long Beach and other parts of Southern California.
The fire is currently 5 percent contained and has prompted an evacuation order for Irvine Cove and Emerald Bay, as well as North Laguna.
The fire has been fueled by hot temperatures in Los Angeles, where a heat advisory was issued from Wednesday through Sunday evening by the National Weather Service.
Currently no homes have been damaged.
Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatched two water-dropping helicopters to assist in the firefight and CAL Fire sent in six air tankers.
Orange County fire officials said fire-retardants will be dropped along the ridge line to halt the fire's spread toward residential areas, NBC Los Angeles reported.
'We met it with a very robust response,' said Orange Count Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy. 'If we ask you to evacuate, please evacuate.'
The chief said the plan is to use the air tankers to pretreat the ridgeline between north Emerald Bay and Newport Beach with retardant in order to hold the fire on the ridge, CBS Los Angeles reported.
The fire has prompted an evacuation order for Irvine Cove and Emerald Bay, as well as an evacuation warning for North Laguna
Flames and smoke could be seen from Long Beach and other parts of Southern California
The Emerald Fire, first reported at 4am on Thursday, has burned through an estimated 145 acres on a hillside above the gated community
