Laguna Fire (1993)

This article is about the 1993 wildfire in Orange County, California. For the 1970 wildfire in San Diego County, California, see Laguna Fire.
Laguna Fire
Across a road, dark smoke and the occasional flame rise above the limb of scrubby hills.
The Laguna Fire seen from the Pacific Coast Highway on October 27, 1993
Date(s)
  • October 27 (27-10) –
  • October 31, 1993 (1993-10-31)
  • (5 days)
LocationOrange County, California, United States
Coordinates33°31′59″N 117°45′58″W / 33.533°N 117.766°W / 33.533; -117.766
Statistics
Burned area16,864 acres (6,825 ha; 26 sq mi; 68 km2)
Impacts
Deaths0
Non-fatal injuries8
Evacuated≥24,500
Structures destroyed441
Damage
  • $528 million
  • (equivalent to about $1,006 million in 2023)
Ignition
CauseArson
Map
A map of the roughly rectangular fire perimeter (with several protrusions) in orange, showing surrounding communities and highways.
The footprint of the Laguna Fire
A dot marks the location of the Laguna Fire in the context of California (along the coast in Southern California.
A dot marks the location of the Laguna Fire in the context of California (along the coast in Southern California.
The general location of the Laguna Fire in coastal Southern California

The 1993 Laguna Fire or Laguna Canyon Fire was a destructive wildfire in Orange County, California. After igniting on October 27, the fire burned more than 16,000 acres (6,500 hectares) and destroyed hundreds of homes in Laguna Beach and Emerald Bay before it was fully contained on October 31. The fire forced almost 25,000 people to evacuate and caused approximately $528 million in damage, becoming one of the most costly fires in United States history. It was part of a larger outbreak of wildfires that week in Southern California, largely driven by Santa Ana winds.