Fire damages store

Nine people were displaced by a fire March 5, but no one was injured.

The fire broke out in an apartment above the Indian Summer store in the 500 block of South Coast Highway and crept down into the ceiling between the two stories, Division Chief Jeff LaTendresse said.

Structural damage is estimated at $180,000. Content damage is estimated at $100,000.

“Indian Summer suffered the majority of the content damage, about $70,000 from water and smoke,” LaTendresse said.

Thirty-one firefighters from Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and the Orange County Fire Authority responded to the fire, which broke out about 11 a.m.

LaTendresse reported the fire was brought under control in about 45 minutes after the first fire units arrived. However, traffic on South Coast Highway was shut down for almost two hours.

The American Red Cross helped the displaced residents find other living accommodations until repairs are made to the complex.

“No occupants have been permitted back into their units, as repairs are still needed to make the structure habitable,” LaTendresse said Thursday.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but no foul play is suspected, LaTendresse said.