Back Bay fire burns 1.5 acres

Newport Beach firefighters responded to a vegetation fire in the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve on Friday afternoon.

The blaze along Irvine Avenue near Santiago Drive was contained to 1.5 acres about half an hour after firefighters responded at 12:54 p.m., said department spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella.

No injuries or structure damage was reported. The preserve is roughly 1,000 acres.

Five Newport engines and some county firefighters responded, Manzella said.

The cause of the fire will be jointly investigated by Newport Beach personnel and the Orange County Fire Authority.

— Bradley Zint

Twitter: @bradleyzint