Man found eating chips in fire station is suspected of breaking in

Costa Mesa firefighters responding to an early-morning emergency call went downstairs to find a man they suspect had broken into their station.

A fire crew discovered the man about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday in the kitchen of the Park Avenue station, according to a post on the firefighters association’s Facebook page.

“They see a guy sitting there at the table eating chips,” said the association’s president, Capt. Rob Gagne.

Firefighters called police and held the man at the station while another crew responded to the emergency call, Gagne said.

Police officers arrested Brian Prame, 29, of Placentia on suspicion of felony burglary and possession of a controlled substance, police Lt. Greg Scott said.

Investigators suspect Prame scaled an exterior wall at the fire station and got inside through a second-story window, Scott said.

The firefighters association said the window was forced open. The Facebook post reminded residents to lock their doors and windows.

Jeremiah Dobruck