BREAKING NEWS

A brush fire in Bonita Canyon scorched more than 100 acres as Newport Beach firefighters worked to contain the blaze that started at about 3:30 this afternoon.

Four helicopters, dipping into the conveniently close San Joaquin Reservoir, worked to douse the blaze and firefighters from several cities raced to the canyon as Santa Ana winds powered the flames up the hillside. Authorities contained the fire at about 5:15 p.m. with small spot fires still needed to be extinguished. Residents in the Port Aberdeen, Port Carlisle and Port Durness neighborhoods were forced to leave their homes.

Firefighters could not immediately identify the cause of the blaze.

— Joseph Serna