The Hard-Learned Lessons of the Fire : New Respect in Laguna Beach for Forces of Nature

One year after fire swept through the hills and canyons of Laguna Beach, the earth and the residents remain heavily scarred. But there are signs of rejuvenation too, and a sense of lessons learned.

Homes are being rebuilt to withstand flames. Brush has been cut, to deprive future fires of fuel. New firefighting helicopters are on call. Those who were burned out, and those who were spared, have a renewed appreciation of the forces of nature and how quickly floods and flames, landslides and earthquakes can transform Southern California.

For some, the effort to put a new home on scorched earth where the old home stood has proved too difficult, emotionally or financially. But many others opted to stay where they were, in a city long known for tolerance, the offbeat, dramatic views and a sense of rural living.

The fire destroyed nearly 400 homes and damaged dozens more in and around Laguna Beach. For those rebuilding, the process has been painfully slow. But residents told Times reporters they were not blaming anyone--a refreshing change in today’s America--but had simply not realized how long it would take. After all, the homeowners had not been through this before.

One group with experience of disasters was the insurance industry, which appeared to have benefited from lessons imparted by past California fires and earthquakes. After receiving deserved criticism following the Oakland Hills fires of 1991, insurance companies seem to have responded in Orange County as they should. The three biggest insurers in the area have paid out nearly $195 million in Laguna Beach so far.

City officials did a good job of cutting red tape for those wanting to rebuild, while also being properly cautious that geological faults that could result in landslides were not ignored. There were disputes over how much water pressure existed before the blazes and why partially filled reservoirs were not drained of water to fight the flames. But eventually the City Council made the tough calls that were needed, including one in favor of a new hilltop reservoir.

County fire officials rightly seized the moment and arranged to lease one firefighting helicopter and to fix and operate two others it received as military surplus. County officials had said there was no money to refurbish the two helicopters, but that changed with the fires. County supervisors realized the worth of the helicopters, and the public support for obtaining them. The county Fire Department did a good job in saving money, which helped finance the helicopter operations.

There have been some disputes among neighbors, often over the potential for blocked views when new, larger homes are built. But in a city noted for its tolerance, there does not appear to be an excess of bitter feuds.

In the back of everyone’s mind, too, should be the awareness that fire is part of nature. Officials continually warn that in many areas of Southern California homes are built in the path of flames that are bound to erupt sooner or later. The danger can be minimized by clearing brush and making firebreaks, by using brick roofing rather than wood, by widening streets to make them more accessible to fire engines.

But the Laguna Beach fire chief, Richard Dewberry, has noted that fire “will happen again.” Only by learning from the tragedy can people hope to minimize the effects of the next one. There are indications that Laguna Beach residents and officials in the city and the county are drawing the right lessons from the last year’s firestorms.