Police: Teens started bay fire

A couple of teenagers playing with matches caused a small wildfire near Newport Beach’s Back Bay over the weekend, police said Monday.

Newport Beach police Lt. Craig Fox said the two 13-year-old boys were playing with matches near the Back Bay when they accidentally ignited the fire that officials said eventually burned between two and five acres. The boys tried to put it out, but couldn’t, Fox said.

They fled the area on their bicycles and told one of their parents, who called authorities to report it, police said. The boys were briefly detained by police and released to their parents. It’s unclear if they’ll be charged with anything, Fox said.

Firefighters responded to the call about 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The fire was in the vegetation off Vista Estrada near the Back Bay and emergency personnel had it extinguished by 3:30 p.m., authorities said. Twenty-six Newport Beach firefighters and four Orange County Fire Authority firefighters responded to the blaze.

— Joseph Serna