Car fire rouses Newport residents

A 1998 Chevrolet Suburban parked on a street on the Balboa Peninsula

was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday, officials said.

Firefighters responded to the scene on East Balboa Boulevard at about

4:09 a.m. and found flames shooting out of the windows and smoke pouring

out of the engine compartment, said Lt. John Blauer, spokesman for the

Newport Beach Fire and Marine Department.

The fire was quickly extinguished by the firefighters and there were

no injuries, he said, noting that no other cars were damaged.

Residents nearby heard a horn sounding early in the morning, followed

by loud popping noises that could have been caused by the SUV’s tires

blowing or its fuel exploding, Blauer said.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, but the

vehicle reportedly had been serviced the day before. The loss was

estimated at $20,000.