The Laguna Fire, previously known as the Kitchen Creek Fire and the Boulder Oaks Fire, was, at its time, the second largest fire in the history of California. The largest was the September 1889 Orange/San Diego County fire that is estimated to have burned as much as 800,000 acres. According to Assistant District Forester (USFS) L.A. Barrett who wrote a 1935 report on California wildfires, "I was living in Orange County at the time and well remember the great fire reported herein from September 24 to 26. Nothing like it occurred in California since the National Forests have been administered. In fact in my 33 years in the Service I have never seen a forest or brush fire to equal it. This one covered an enormous scope of country and burned very rapidly." State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ...

The Laguna fire was started by downed power lines during Santa Ana winds in the Kitchen Creek area of the Laguna Mountains in eastern San Diego County on the morning of September 26, 1970. In only 24 hours it burned westward about 30 miles (50 km) to the outskirts of El Cajon and Spring Valley. The fire devastated the communities of Harbison Canyon and Crest. In the end the fire burned 175,425 acres (710 km²) and 382 homes killing eight people. Santa Ana winds are warm, dry winds that characteristically appear in Southern California weather during autumn and early winter. ... The Laguna Mountains are a section of the Peninsular Ranges in eastern San Diego County. ... San Diego County is a county located on the Pacific Ocean in the far southwest of California, along the border with Mexico. ... El Cajon (pronounced el ka-HONE) is a city located in San Diego County, California. ... Spring Valley is a census-designated place located in San Diego County, California. ... Harbison Canyon is an unincorporated community located in San Diego County, California. ... Crest is an unincorporated community located in San Diego County, California. ...

The Laguna Fire was surpassed as the second largest fire in California history by the 280,278 acre (1,134 km²) Cedar Fire in October 2003. Southern California ablaze on October 26, 2003. ...

Controversy

At at time when high Santa Ana winds grounded other firefighting aircraft, a representative of Canadair brought a CL-215 to southern California to demonstrate its capabilities. He was turned away by firefighting officials. Nevertheless, while other firefighting aircraft were unable to fly safely he operated his "Super Scooper" out of El Capitan Reservoir and dropped water on the Laguna Fire wherever he saw fit. The firefighting officials were unimpressed and such aircraft are not used in southern California to fight fires to this day (with the exception of two CL-415s leased by Los Angeles County during the fire season). Canadair was a civil aircraft manufacturer in Canada, and formed the core of Bombardier Aerospace History Canadair was created in 1944 by the government of Canada as a manufacturer of PBY Canso flying boats for the RCAF for patrol duty. ... The CL-215 was the first model in a series of purpose-built firefighting aircraft built by Canadair and later Bombardier. ... Super Scooper is a nickname given to certain firefighting aircraft built by Canadair and later Bombardier. ... Map of California showing Los Angeles County. ...