One resident displaced in weekend Costa Mesa apartment fire; investigation underway

Costa Mesa and Newport Beach fire crews on Saturday battled a blaze that broke out in a two-story apartment building and temporarily displaced at least one resident. Officials said Monday the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Capt. Joe Noceti said the call came in shortly before 7:30 p.m. Saturday at an apartment on the 100 block of 21st Street.

“There was a significant amount of fire and smoke when we arrived,” Noceti said Monday. “We were able to isolate it to one apartment, but there was significant damage causing one resident to be displaced.”

A bedroom at an end-unit apartment on 21st Street in Costa Mesa was heavily damaged by a fire that broke out Saturday night.

(Courtesy of Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue)

One person inside the residence was able to safely exit, while adjacent residents were temporarily evacuated during the fight. Although smoke damage had spread throughout the apartment unit, Noceti said the fire damage was concentrated to a bedroom at the rear of the property.

Assisted by the Newport Beach Fire Department, firefighters extinguished all visible flames in about 30 minutes, cutting ventilation holes in the roof to clear the area below for crews working inside the building.

“It allows smoke and heat to escape upward and created a more tenable situation for the firefighters,” Noceti said of the process.

After the flames were doused, responders remained at the property for several hours to remove debris and ensure no hotspots remained.

Exactly what may have caused the fire is still being investigated. Because the extent of the damage exceeded 25% of the total property, the occupant of the damaged unit was eligible for a $250 SAVE (Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency) card to help cover the cost of basic necessities.

Fire personnel on Saturday ventilate a roof during a structure fire, while a firefighter on the ground runs a hose into an apartment on the 100 block of Costa Mesa’s 21st Street.

(Courtesy of Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue)

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