Laguna Niguel, County Issue Emergency Declarations For Coastal Fire

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA — City and county officials on Thursday both declared a local emergency in response to the growing Coastal Fire that has destroyed nearly two dozen homes and scorched more than 200 acres in Laguna Niguel.

The declaration from Laguna Niguel will allow the city to "mobilize local resources, coordinate interagency response, accelerate procurement of vital supplies, use mutual aid and seek future reimbursement by the state and federal government," city officials said.

Laguna Niguel officials cited the "rapid growth and shift of the wildfire" as the driving force behind the declaration.

RELATED: Coastal Fire: 20+ Homes Burned, Blackouts For 100+ In Laguna Niguel

Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said the county's declaration will allow officials "to leverage all available resources, including state and federal funding, to support the residents impacted by this tragedy."

The Coastal Fire began Wednesday afternoon as a small fire less than an acre in size and grew overnight, consuming more than 200 acres of land and destroying at least 20 houses, said T.J. McGovern, assistant chief of field operations for the Orange County Fire Authority.

Crews from neighboring firefighting agencies, including Cal Fire and the Los Angeles County Fire Department, worked with the fire authority to help battle the blaze.

The fire's cause remained under investigation, McGovern said.

RELATED: Coastal Fire Photos: Devastating Loss Of Orange County Homes

Residents of about 900 houses in the Laguna Niguel and Laguna Beach area remained under evacuation orders as of early Thursday afternoon.

The Crown Valley Community Center was designated a "care and reception center" for anyone affected by the fire, Laguna Niguel Mayor Elaine Gennawey said.

Gennawey encouraged residents affected by the fire to contact the city by email or at 949-362-4300 for help with the recovery process.

"The priority of the city of Laguna Niguel is the safety and well-being of all our residents," she said.