Man arrested for Back Bay fire

Jennifer K Mahal

Newport Beach police arrested a transient in connection with a brush

fire that burned through part of the Back Bay on Saturday evening. As of

press time, the man had not been positively identified, said Sgt. Scott

McKnight of the Newport Beach Police Department.

Fire officials said the blaze did not threaten any homes as it burned

near the 300 block of Vista Madera in Newport Beach. The fire, which was

reported at around 7 p.m. Saturday, was under control about a half an

hour later thanks to the efforts of four fire engines, a medic unit and a

police helicopter, which dropped water from an attached bucket.

Residents varied in their descriptions of the size of the fire, said

Jim Hall, dispatch supervisor for the Newport Beach Fire Department.

“It’s been reported as half the size of a football field to the size

of a van,” Hall said.

Amy Walter, who lives on Vista Madera, said she heard the fire engines

and thought at first that the fire was across the bay. Though there have

been warnings that dry conditions across the Southland could result in a

bad fire season this year, Walter said she was not concerned until she

saw this blaze.

“Things in the residential area are pretty irrigated,” she said.

Daughter Zoe Walter, 9, said she could smell the smoke in the house.

“It’s the first fire I’ve seen close to my house,” she said. “I’m glad

it didn’t catch anyone’s house on fire.”

As of press time, police and fire officials did not have any details

as to how the blaze started.