Winds loosen power lines

The abrupt appearance of Santa Ana winds early Sunday kept firefighters in the Newport-Mesa area busy.

One Corona del Mar home narrowly escaped getting engulfed in flames Sunday morning after a power line loosened by the intense Santa Ana winds set the wood shake roof of the residence ablaze, firefighters said.

A greater and imminent disaster was averted through the quick actions of Newport Beach Fire Capt. Jerry Strom, who arrived after receiving a call about loose power lines. When Strom was alerted to the roof situation, he grabbed a garden hose out of the home’s carport, ran up a stairway to the roof and began dousing the three-to-four foot flames until a fire engine arrived, relieving him with greater water power.

The call came in at 9 a.m. that numerous power lines were dangling in the alleyway behind Narcissus Avenue and between 4th and 5th avenues. One line had a fuse burst sending a wire onto the roof where it ignited some leaves, Strom said.

Firefighter checked the home afterward with a thermal imager and determined no fire damage had spread to the interior, Strom said, but added things could have gotten much worse quickly.

“The wind was really blowing at that time and well could have blown it out to a much bigger fire,” Strom said. “A lot of shingles and shake roofs are in that neighborhood.”

Such incidents always become a concern during a visit from the Santa Ana winds, which brings with it dry, and often hot, air, perfect food for fires to spread.

“All bets are off when the winds are like this,” said Battalion Chief Chip Duncan. “A small trash fire that would be nothing can turn into a blaze.”

“We want to remind residents that if they see any kind of small fire, even one they think they can handle on their own, call 911 immediately” so it does not escalate beyond containing, he added.

All of the stations were kept pretty busy during the rest of the day answering calls for alarms being set off by the winds, tarps coming loose at a construction site near electric lines, and huge patio umbrellas flipping like tumbleweeds through the streets.

Engines from both Newport Beach and Costa Mesa firehouses were sent to Malibu to assist firefighters up there combating a 1,500-acre blaze that had already destroyed several homes and businesses.

The course winds are expected to stay through Tuesday evening, national forecasters said. A high wind warning will be in effect until 6 p.m. today, with a high wind advisory in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Also, a fire warning has been set for Orange County until 3 p.m. Tuesday. The warm temperatures, expected to stay in the 80s and less than 15 percent humidity adds up to a high fire risk, forecaster Noel Isla said.

Surf is expected to stay between 3 to 5 feet for most of the week, according to forecasters. The winds also kick up leaves, dirt, dust and pollen that have been collecting for months, forecasters said.

“The air quality is not good, blowing dust, sand and debris around,” Isla added.

That will especially be the case for the Newport-Mesa area after a fire broke out Sunday afternoon in the Canyon Country of Orange County near Irvine Lake, sending smoke and ash toward the area.

KELLY STRODL may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at kelly.strodl@latimes.com.