Multimillion-dollar mansions overlooking California’s Laguna Beach are engulfed in flames as strong winds fuel fast-moving wildfire: Residents ordered to evacuate as 20 homes are destroyed in the 200-acre blaze

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  Homes overlooking the ocean near Laguna Beach have been engulfed in flames from a fast-moving brush fire
• Dubbed the Coastal Fire, it started at 2.44pm and has, in just a few hours, spread to more than 180 acres 
• It is being fueled by strong winds and has set 20 homes homes alight in the Laguna Niguel neighborhood
• Evacuations have been ordered in the areas as firefighters battle to get flames under control
• California is engulfed in a drought: The first three months of 2022 have been the driest on record and March only saw one inch of rainfall, leading firefighters to warn of a summer full of fires

By JENNY STANTON and HARRIET ALEXANDER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and RACHAEL BUNYAN FOR MAILONLINE

Multimillion dollar mansions went up in flames in California on Wednesday as a fast-moving brush fire engulfed luxury properties overlooking the Pacific.

The blaze – dubbed the Coastal Fire – ignited near a water treatment facility in Aliso Woods Canyon – between Laguna Niguel and Laguna beach in Orange County – at 2.44pm and swept up steep terrain amid strong gales.

The fire ripped across the area and began looming over homes on Coronado Pointe. By 11pm the blaze had consumed around 200 acres with zero containment.

Hundreds of homeowners, seeing the flames coming towards them from the hills, quickly collected their most precious belongings and fled in their cars – not knowing whether their houses would be safe.

But the flames quickly reached the gated community at Coronado Pointe – where properties sell for between $1million and $10million – and the 30300 block of La Vue near the Summit Trail.

As the first homes began to burn, the embers were cast into neighboring homes, causing a devastating domino effect.

At least 20 homes in the exclusive enclave have been engulfed by the fire and a further 100 were potentially in the wildfire’s path, Orange County Sheriff’s Capt. Virgil Asuncion said.

But the number of homes that were damaged and destroyed in the fire will only be known on Thursday morning as assessment teams enter the area.

‘It takes your breath away,’ Julianna Shapiro, 52, told the LA Times as she watched her community burn. ‘It’s just so hard to watch, but I can’t help not watch it. It’s our neighbors losing their homes. You feel so hopeless.’+41View gallery

Multimillion dollar mansions went up in flames in California on Wednesday as a fast-moving brush fire engulfed luxury properties overlooking the Pacific+41View gallery

The blaze – dubbed the Coastal Fire – ignited near a water treatment facility in Aliso Woods Canyon – between Laguna Niguel (pictured) and Laguna beach in Orange County – at 2.44pm and swept up steep terrain amid strong gales+41View gallery

The fire ripped across the area and began looming over homes on Coronado Pointe. By 11pm the blaze had consumed around 200 acres with zero containment. Pictured: A house is reduced to rubble by the Coastal Fire in Laguna Niguel, California, on Wednesday+41View gallery

Houses are set on fire by the Coastal Fire in Laguna Niguel, California, on Wednesday+41View gallery

A house can be seen on fire in the background after a wind-driven wildfire broke out on Wednesday near Laguna Niguel+41View gallery

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California firefighters battle a home on fire in Laguna Niguel as the wildfire spread in Laguna Niguel+41View gallery

A building is entirely destroyed in the blaze, that ripped through the region, sparked just before 3pm+41View gallery

Firefighters douse the hillside with retardant sprays to try and put the fire out on Wednesday+41View gallery

A mansion and a car are seen destroyed by the raging wildfire in Laguna Niguel on Wednesday +41View gallery

Smoke is seen rising from the Coastal Fire which ignited near a water treatment facility between Laguna Niguel and Laguna Beach at 2.44pm local time+41View gallery

A fire truck is seen at the scene of the fire. Water-dropping helicopters are being used to try and fight the fireWildfire burns through homes ……...more here

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