Costa Mesa man dies after rescue from fire

Deepa Bharath

A 50-year-old man died after firefighters rescued him from his

burning apartment Monday morning, officials said.

Peter Schwartz of Costa Mesa was pronounced dead at Hoag Hospital,

Orange County Coroner officials said. An autopsy was performed, but

officials say they still do not know the cause of death. Toxicology

reports will now be performed, but results may take up to six weeks.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at about 4 a.m. Monday at a

two-story apartment complex in the 400 block of West Bay Street,

officials said. When they arrived on scene, they encountered heavy

smoke swirling out of the front door of one of the downstairs

apartments, Costa Mesa Fire Capt. Bruce Pulgencio said.

When they tried to put the hose into the apartment to extinguish

the fire, firefighters found Schwartz lying unconscious on the floor

near the front door, he said. Schwartz had suffered burns to his

face, chest and hands, Pulgencio said. No one else was in the

apartment and no other injuries were reported.

It took firefighters less than 10 minutes to put out the fire that

damaged the front living room and kitchen and caused smoke damage to

the entire apartment.

Paramedics performed CPR on Schwartz and transported him to Hoag

Hospital.

Arson officials are investigating the incident, said Barbara

Marcosa, spokeswoman for the Costa Mesa Fire Department. Seventeen

firefighters, three paramedic engines, a truck and a battalion chief

responded to the incident, she said.

An estimate of the damages was not available Monday. Marcosa said

it would take investigators at least two weeks to pinpoint the cause

of the fire. She said the fire did not affect nor damage neighboring

units.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.