Residents escape late-night fire that burns garage of Newport home

Flames gutted the garage of a Newport Beach home before firefighters doused the blaze Sunday night, according to authorities.

Residents at the house in the first block of Old Course Drive escaped unscathed after their fire alarms alerted them to the flames shortly before 11:30 p.m., said Newport Beach Fire Department spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella.

Soon after, crews arrived to find the garage ablaze, Manzella said.

More than 25 firefighters from Newport Beach and the Orange County Fire Authority fought the flames, which threatened to spread to a neighboring home, Manzella said.

Crews controlled the blaze within a half-hour, containing it mostly to the garage and part of the home’s attic, authorities said.

Nobody was hurt, Manzella said.

The garage was a total loss, and the home’s living area sustained some smoke and water damage, Manzella said. Authorities estimated the damage at $500,000.

The fire’s cause is under investigation.