Crime & Safety
3 Homes Destroyed, 2 Injured In Southeast LA County Brush Fire
The Palos Fire burned 17 acres, destroyed three homes and injured three people Monday afternoon.
LA HABRA HEIGHTS, CA — An investigation was underway Tuesday into the cause of a brush fire that burned about 17 acres in La Habra Heights, destroyed three homes and injured two people, including a firefighter.
The Palos Fire was reported about 2:30 p.m. Monday near Lupin Hill Road and Las Palomas Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The blaze quickly moved uphill toward homes, Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Aaron Katon told KTLA. Three homes were destroyed and a fourth was partially damaged, while two outbuildings also sustained significant damage, fire officials said.
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A firefighter and a resident suffered medical emergencies during the fire, Katon told KTLA. Both were expected to recover.
Firefighters also rescued five horses from properties in the area, KTLA reported.
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At least six homes were evacuated as the fire spread, with displaced residents directed to Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights. An evacuation warning was also issued for residents east of Colima Road and South Hacienda Boulevard.
About 180 firefighters and firefighting aircraft battled the blaze, the Whittier Daily News reported.
By around 6 p.m., crews had stopped the fire's forward progress and reached about 41% containment. At that time, Cal Fire reported that crews were continuing to work to strengthen containment and secure the fire area.
The newspaper reported that La Habra Heights resident Tammy Becker lost the home where she had lived for 20 years. Becker said she returned to the property Monday night hoping to find nine cats, including six fosters, that had been at the house.
All evacuation orders and warnings were lifted around 6 p.m. Monday after officials determined the fire no longer posed a threat to nearby residents, according to KTLA.
Some utility service remained disrupted Monday evening, though restoration was expected as early as Tuesday, KTLA reported.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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