Red flag warnings extended

A red flag warning and high wind advisories are in effect in coastal Orange County until 10 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Red flag warnings are issued when the danger of fire is extreme, due to low humidity and high winds.

A brush fire in Bonita Canyon in nearby Newport Beach scorched about 35 acres Monday as Newport Beach and Costa Mesa firefighters battled for nearly two hours to contain the blaze.

Three helicopters helped douse the blaze, which started about 3:30 p.m., while firefighters from several cities raced to the canyon as Santa Ana winds powered the flames up the hillside. The blaze was contained about 5:15 p.m.

Three hundred Newport residents were evacuated with two homes sustaining minor damage. All residents were allowed back in by 6 p.m., officials said.

Firefighters could not immediately identify the cause of the blaze.

Wind-whipped fires have spread through northeast Los Angeles, where firefighters have been working since mid-day Sunday to fight wildfires. Evacuations have been ordered and some 3,000 homes are threatened, according to news reports.

Fire officials in Laguna Beach are wary of several arson fires that have been reported near the San Diego Freeway at the 133, City Manager Ken Frank reported in his Oct. 10 weekly update.

Local volunteers scan wilderness areas on red flag days to spot fires.

--Joseph Serna contributed to this story.