Fire guts bedroom of Costa Mesa apartment; resident sought for questioning

Firefighters quickly doused a blaze in a Costa Mesa apartment Thursday morning, but have been unable to find a resident who might be able to tell them how it started.

Crews received a call about the fire at a fourplex in the 700 block of West 18th Street shortly after 9 a.m., Costa Mesa Fire Department Capt. Chris Coates said.

When they arrived, firefighters saw flames and smoke coming from the upstairs window of a two-story unit, according to Coates.

About 25 firefighters put out the flames within 15 minutes, he said.

The blaze gutted the upstairs bedroom where it started and caused smoke damage to an adjacent apartment, Coates said.

Firefighters said they were unaware of any injuries.

Investigators are trying to determine how the fire began and are looking for a resident who is believed to have been in the bedroom when the blaze started.

Coates said another resident who was fleeing the fire saw one of his roommates with soot all over his face come out of the bedroom and bolt from the apartment.

“We’d like to talk to him,” Coates said of the soot-stained man.

Coates said five people live in the apartment. He added that city inspectors will determine whether it’s a violation for that many residents to be in the unit.