House fire caused by electrical short...

House fire caused by electrical short

A short in a family room electrical outlet was the cause of a

house fire, according to Laguna Beach fire officials.

Firefighters were called to the 10 block of North La Senda Drive

at 3:31 a.m. Wednesday after the home security system alarm was

triggered.

“When stations No. 2 and No. 4 got there, they saw the glow of the

fire inside the house and reported a full structural fire,” Battalion

Chief Jeff Latendresse said.

They were joined by two engine companies, a truck and a battalion

chief. The fire crew from station No. 4 forced entry into the home

through a security gate and a French glass door.

The fire captain, who was not identified, sustained a laceration

to his hand when he broke through the glass. He was taken to South

Coast Medical Center, where he received eight stitches. He will be

off the engine for about a week and a half, Latendresse said.

Although the blaze was extinguished within 20 minutes, he

estimated that smoke will account for an estimated $50,000 to 75,000

in damages. The owners use the home on weekends and weren’t there

when the fire broke out.

“They were fortunate that the smoke detectors went off and the

alarm called the dispatch center,” Latendresse said. “The fire

could’ve burned unchecked for some time before the neighbors woke up

and called 911.”

Police plan DUI checkpoint

The Laguna Beach Police Department will hold a DUI/driver’s

license checkpoint at 11 p.m. tonight at an undisclosed location.

The purpose of the checkpoint is to make the motoring public aware

of the danger of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and

to identify and arrest impaired drivers, according to Sgt. Doris

Higgins.

The last checkpoint in Laguna was held on July 29. Higgins

estimates that 1,275 cars passed through the point and, of those

cars, 509 were stopped. Forty drivers were given field sobriety

tests. The department arrested three people for driving under the

influence and six were cited for offenses such as driving without a

license and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, she said.

All officers will be in uniform. Members of Mother’s Against Drunk

Driving, Citizens on Patrol and the Citizens Academy will be on hand.

-- Mary A. Castillo