The curious coincidence in Huntington Harbour, where 2 blazes destroyed 3 vessels

While concentrating on another task at hand last Wednesday afternoon, I spotted a message coming in via one of our Daily Pilot Slack channels about there being “another boat fire” in Huntington Harbour, exactly one week to the day after a 33-foot cruiser became engulfed in flames there.

That piqued my interest because, in the nearly six years I’ve worked at the Daily Pilot, I couldn’t recall having heard of another vessel fire in that waterfront community. And we were now learning of a second blaze in a mere seven-day period.

As it turned out, according to the story assistant editor Sara Cardine wrote on last Wednesday’s event, firefighters and marine safety personnel were dispatched to put out blazes that destroyed not one, but two more vessels in the same harbor. In this incident, the two boats, both described in the story as 40-foot Pacificas, were tied up together, which could explain why a fire in one could quickly devour the other.

Curiously, to my inner Nancy Drew, anyway, the 911 call to the first fire, the one involving the cruiser named “Nautical Nonsense,” was made “just before 1 p.m.” on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The call to the Wednesday, Sept. 30 blaze came in “shortly after 1 p.m.,” according to our second story. “Hmm,” I thought.

Cardine posed the very question I had been wondering about to Huntington Beach Fire Department Capt. Steve Teasdale. Might there be a Huntington Habour boat arsonist afoot? (Well, I doubt she used those exact words, she probably simply asked if they could be connected in any way.)

She learned from him that while the cause of the fire that destroyed the cruiser on Sept. 23 remained under review, “the two separate incidents are not being investigated as connected or suspicious in nature,” she reported.

In other words, it was likely just a boatload of coincidences.

MORE NEWS

Caption: Emmanuel Banuelos proposed to his girlfriend Hayley Lugos at Crescent Bay Point Park in Laguna Beach on Friday, Oct. 2. A video of the engagement went viral after a resident yelled at the couple to “go back to Mexico” and said she called the police because they don’t have permission to use the park for an engagement.

(Trinity Lugos)

Woman’s racist rant disrupting local beach proposal goes viral

A marriage proposal at Crescent Bay Point Park in Laguna Beach on Friday evening was interrupted by a woman walking her dog who shouted at the couple to “go back to Mexico,” a racist rant that was captured on video by the sister of the bride-to-be. The video, posted to social media, was viewed by millions.

Person accused of intentionally killing puppy on Santa Ana street arrested

Anaheim resident Hahn Nguyen, 75, was booked into Santa Ana jail on suspicion of animal cruelty and animal abandonment last Thursday after surveillance footage showed she ran over her 9-month-old puppy, “Blackey,” while driving a minivan on the 900 block of W. Park Lane, Santa Ana on Sept. 8.

Video of alleged beating by Santa Ana police spurs investigation

A video circulating on social media appears to show two Santa Ana police officers throwing a 28-year-old man to the ground and beating him outside his Santa Ana home and is being investigated by officials, according to this Times report.

Activists rally outside Starbucks Newport Beach office

Claiming that an investigation undertaken by environmentalists showed Starbucks cups going into landfills instead of being recycled as the company has vowed, protesters gathered outside the Newport Beach offices of the coffee retailer last Thursday morning to state their case at a news conference.

Anaheim mayor admits to ‘unhealthy relationship’ with alcohol

After TimesOC made public her chief-of-staff’s claim that Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken had made inappropriate comments about her aide’s faith, race and sexuality, and other outlets followed suit, Aitken took to social media the other day to admit having an “unhealthy relationship with alcohol.” In a related story published online Tuesday, TimesOC reported Aitken allegedly skirted questions as to how her husband came to be invited by Qatar to accompany her to a mayor’s conference in the Middle Eastern country at no cost to the couple.

Disneyland again raises its ticket prices in the middle of the night

The most recent edition of Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride newsletter, the labor of love for The Times’ Todd Martens, carries the news that Disneyland has again raised ticket prices, “and stealthily in the night.” The good news: “Collectively, this is one of the smallest overall increases made by the Disneyland Resort in recent history,” Martens writes.

Costa Mesa planners approve plan for 21 homes on 1.49 acres

The Costa Mesa Planning Commission has approved a new development on a parcel of less than 2 acres previously used as a 28-unit mobile home park. The proposed complex includes 21 two-story homes with three- and four-bedroom floorplans near the intersection of Tustin Avenue and 21st Street.

Sports roundup

The Angels celebrate their 2002 World Series title. Scouting director Bob Fontaine Jr., who was credited with assembling much of that championship roster, has died at 73.

(Los Angeles Times)

Legendary scout who drafted Angels’ 2002 championship core, dies

Bob Fontaine Jr. died Saturday after more than five decades in baseball, scouting for six teams. He was 73. A highlight of his career, The Times reports, was “drafting the nucleus of the Angels’ roster that won the 2002 World Series.”

Ducks sign Tristan Luneau to six-year, $43.2-million contract

The Ducks, who won their season opener over the Vegas Golden Knights Friday night, announced Thursday a $43.2-million deal with 22-year-old defenseman Tristan Luneau after he’d made just 14 National Hockey League appearances.

Corona del Mar football stays undefeated

In a Bravo League opener against Villa Park, the Sea Kings of Corona del Mar High beat Villa Park, 24-10 on Friday, and are now 6-0 for the season. Villa Park, which prior to last week had averaging nearly 60 points a game, dropped to 5-1.

4 Things to do in OC

🏬 Feeling like Holly Golightly? Take a break from shopping at South Coast Plaza and dip into the Blue Box Café by Daniel Boulud, the new full-service restaurant at Tiffany’s, where the jewelry retailer’s distinctive blue gift boxes hang from the ceiling as part of the decor.
🍷 Make plans to attend the California Wine Festival that’s set to take place Oct. 16 and 17. The two-day wine will will be held at Paséa Hotel & Spa, overlooking the Pacific in Huntington Beach.
🎠 Enjoy the fun at the four-day Carnival Colossal and Food Truck Festival at Vista Hermosa Sports Park in San Clemente that begins this Thursday, from 5 to 10 p.m. Hours on Friday are 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 2 to 11 p.m. and Sunday, 2 to 10 p.m. For more details, go to friendsofsanclemente.org.
🪘Help celebrate the 25th annual Irvine Global Village Festival this Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. in Great Park.

KEEP IN TOUCH
Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter! Please feel free to reach out with comments or questions at carol.cormaci@latimes.com.