Apartment fire severely damages unit

NEWPORT BEACH — Dozens of firefighters from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa responded to an apartment fire here Tuesday morning that blew out windows and caused a quarter-million dollars in damage to the unit and surrounding area.

About 4:21 a.m., a passerby on the way to work heard crackling coming from the Coronado Apartments, 1605 Sherington Place.

Firefighters rushed to the scene and found smoke billowing from the second floor and flames lapping up to the apartment above.

Officials said that 33 firefighters from Newport and Costa Mesa responded, entering the second-floor apartment and dousing the blaze in about 10 minutes.

Fire damage was limited to the apartment, but smoke damaged the hallway and neighboring units, officials said.

One person was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene. There were no other known injuries.

The blaze caused an estimated $250,000 in damage.

Though the cause was undetermined, the fire appeared to have started in the kitchen, according to authorities.

Hours later, Costa Mesa firefighters responded to another fire. This one was in the dust collection sytem of a building at 1771 Placentia Avenue. Firefighters contained the blaze before it could spread.

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Joseph Serna