Watch Live: Firefighters attack a brush fire along the Orange County coast. Live coverage continues here:
A brush fire pushed by strong winds forced evacuations early Thursday in coastal Orange County communities, but firefighters have protected homes as flames appear to be moving into open space.
The fire, estimated at about 10 acres, was reported around 4 a.m. on a hillside above Emerald Bay. Flames and smoke could be seen from Long Beach and other parts of Southern California. An evacuation order was issued for Irvine Cove and Emerald Bay. An evacuation warning was in effect for North Laguna.
No homes have been damaged thanks to firefighters on the ground and a barrage of overnight runs from water-dropping aircraft. Orange County fire officials said they are optimistic that the fire will burn away from the area, allowing firefighters to hold flames along a ridge line away from neighborhoods. Fire retardant will be dropped along the ridge line to halt the fire's spread.
"We met it with a very robust response," said Orange Count Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy."If we ask you to evacuate, please evacuate."Emerald Bay is an unincorporated area of Orange County. The fire was pushed north by wind along the northern edge of a residential area.
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