Lightning struck a tree that caught fire in the Temple Hills area during this past Tuesday’s unexpected afternoon thunderstorm.
Four fire trucks spent several minutes dousing the palm tree that caught fire on San Remo Drive and prevented it from spreading to nearby homes, fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse said.
One resident nearby described the lightning strike as the loudest sound they’ve ever heard.
Monday, June 22
Stolen vehicle. 25100 block of Stockport St., Laguna Hills. 8 a.m. Julius Edward McMillon, 18, of Trabuco Canyon and a 17-year-old Laguna Hills juvenile were arrested for suspicion of car theft after police set up surveillance on two cars located in Laguna Hills reported missing a few hours earlier. One of the vehicles disappeared from Temple Terrace Drive.
Vandalism. 400 block of N. Coast hwy. 11:42 a.m. Two electrical poles and the wall of a hotel were tagged with graffiti, which was illegible.
Fraud. 30900 block of Coast Hwy. 3:19 p.m. An Irvine man’s credit card had been fraudulently used at a local business.
Grand theft. 300 block of Mermaid St. 5:53 p.m. A bag of clothing valued at $1,000 was taken from a porch where it had been left for pick up by the dry cleaner.
Tuesday, June 23
Burglary attempt. 500 block of Broadway St. 7:41 a.m. A business found its door lock damaged.
Traffic stop.. Coast and Mountain 9:15 a.m. Mia Chong, 31, of Los Angeles, was arrested for two felony warrants as well as new misdemeanor charges for forgery, possession of a controlled substance and possession of false identification and the felony charge of impersonating another person. Bail was set at $125,000.
Fire. 1000 block of S. Coast hwy. 5:18 p.m. A dryer caught fire.
Wednesday, June 24
Pedestrian stop. Circle Way. 3:12 p.m. A 35-year-old Anaheim man was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Vehicle burglary. 32200 block of Coast hwy. 3:13 p.m. Thieves smashed a window and stole a purse.
Traffic collision. Third Avenue . 5:41 p.m. Three vehicles were involved in a rear-end collision.
Fraud. 31600 Third Ave. 6:31 p.m. Someone made several unauthorized online purchases with a resident’s credit card.
Drunk driving. 1900 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 9:28 p.m. As a result of a motorist reporting an erratic driver, Douglas Bryan Pichard, 62, of Coto de Caza, was held for suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $10,000 due to a prior offense.
Thursday, June 25
Traffic stop. 100 block of Cress St. 10:56 p.m. A 55-year-old Aliso Viejo was cited for DUI.
Friday, June 26
Traffic collision. Scenic Dr. 10:49 a.m. A vehicle was involved in a collision with a city bus. Further details were unavailable.
Medical rescue. 31900 block of Coast Hwy. 7:25 p.m. A beach-goer who may have had a stroke was airlifted from Thousand Steps Beach by air ambulance.
Saturday, June 27
Traffic hazard. El Toro Rd. 3:30 a.m. Johnny Tapis, 35, of Rancho Santa margarita, was arrested for an outstanding warrant.
Robbery. 400 block of Thalia St. 5:55 p.m. A suspect who claimed to be armed robbed a person outside his home of cash and electronics. The victim was uninjured and never saw a gun, but detectives are investigating the incident.
Sunday, June 28
Traffic stop. 100 block of S. Coast Hwy. 1 a.m. A 23-year-old Laguna Beach woman was cited for DUI.
Traffic stop. 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 2 a.m. A 22-year-old Orange man was cited for DUI.
Pedestrian stop. Jasmine St. 9:54 a.m. Jeffrey Joseph Noon, 61, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for three outstanding drug-related warrants.
Traffic stop. 30900 block of Coast Hwy. 10:56 a.m. Janell Haney, 24, of Ontario, was arrested for suspicion of driving unlicensed.
Drunk driving. 600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 12:32 p.m. Erick Grant Rustad, 33, of Whittier, was arrested for outstanding warrants.
Traffic collision. 1900 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 8:30 p.m. A motorist rear-ended by another vehicle complained of pain to her head and abdomen and was transported for treatment.
Traffic collsion. Oak St. 8 p.m. Gregory Foster, 31, of Costa Mesa, was arrested for suspicion of DUI after he plowed into two parked cars.
Fire. 31100 block of Monterey St. 9:58 p.m. A transformer fire was suppressed after two hours.
Traffic collision.. 2400 block of Laguna Can yon Rd. 10 p.m. Laguna Canyon Road reopened Monday after a 12-hour overnight closure. Police halted traffic due to low-hanging utility lines, caused by a severed pole. An inbound driver struck a pole in the 2400 block of Laguna Canyon Road about 10 p.m. Repair teams arrived more than five hours later and remedied the situation by 10 a.m. The uninjured driver was cited for driving on a suspended license, police said.
The post Lightning Strike Ignites a Tree Blaze appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.