Eight left homeless after fire

Eron Ben-Yehuda

An electrical malfunction is the probable cause of a two-alarm fire

Tuesday in Huntington Beach, an investigator said.

At about 12:30 a.m., firefighters from Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley

and Santa Ana rushed to control a blaze in a four-unit apartment building

at 8232 Slater Ave., Huntington Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief

Charles Burney said.

Eight tenants were rushed out of the building as firefighters battled the

flames for 30 minutes, he said. The tenants escaped unharmed but a

firefighter suffered a minor back injury, he said.

The damage is estimated at $50,000, he said.

The American Red Cross is helping the displaced tenants find temporary

housing, Fire Department Investigator Gary Durian said. The fire began

inside a wall between two apartment units, he said.