09/15/2026
HOLD THE LINE!
When the Palos Fire broke out in La Habra Heights Monday afternoon, MRCA jumped into action! Chief Ranger Gomez, Deputy Chief Ranger Hughes, and Public Officer Mejia quickly began evacuating hikers from Arroyo San Miguel Trailhead of the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority (Habitat Authority) and checked in with Incident Command, led by LA County Fire/La Habra Heights Fire, where they received an assignment of structure protection along Casalero Drive.
Equipped with two Type-6 patrols, they utilized the Preserves fire road to access their assigned location. Once on scene, they connected their engines to a water hydrant, dousing the hillside as flames burned uphill, helping to prevent the flames from spreading to a nearby residence in between the water drops from air ops.
MRCA Rangers are not only California State Peace Officers, they are generalist rangers who are also trained in wildland firefighting, emergency response, resource management, interpretation, maintenance, and stewardship.
The Habitat Authority has contracted with MRCA over the past 30 years for ranger patrol services across the Habitat Authority's 3,886 acres. The Palos Fire was held to approximately 17 acres, it did not burn into Habitat Authority parkland. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority
Los Angeles County Fire Department
City of La Habra Heights Fire Department
