Fires Wreck 2 Downtown Houses Used by Transients

A fire Tuesday destroyed two abandoned downtown houses frequently used as shelter by transients.

Firefighters were called to 1833 Columbia St. at 3:15 p.m., where they found a two-story house engulfed in flames. The fire then spread to and destroyed a house next door, San Diego Fire Department spokesman Larry Stewart said.

Firefighters were able to save a third house threatened by the blaze. Nino Crivello, 79, who neighbors said had lived for years at that house with his wife, Antonia, initially refused to evacuate.

Finally, a neighbor, Eugene Faust, persuaded him to leave. “He wanted to stay in his house,” Faust said. Crivello’s house suffered only minor heat damage, officials said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation by the Metro Arson Strike Team, Stewart said. He said that because of the complete destruction of the first house, investigators will “have a difficult time finding the (fire’s) point of origin.” He had no cost estimate for the damage.

Witnesses said a transient was seen leaving the house shortly before it burst into flames. Faust, 35, said he heard glass breaking, saw the house “explode” into flames, then saw a man run out the back.

“He was trying to slip away down the street,” Faust said. Faust said he and a companion, David Crews, 29, held the man until authorities arrived.

“He said he woke up and saw the fire,” Faust said. “He said he was in the house sleeping.”

Police took the man to police headquarters for questioning, but said he was not suspected of setting the fire. The man was treated at the scene for a cut hand.

“He came out from the back . . . he claimed he dived out the back window,” Crews said.

The two houses were in a half-block area that is slated for demolition, residents and fire officials said.