Causes unknown in closet fire

Lindsay Sandham

A fire that may have started in a master bedroom closet caused about

$200,000 in damage to a Corona del Mar home Monday, officials said.

Newport Beach firefighters arriving at the home in the 700 block

of K-Thanga Drive in the Irvine Terrace community found it full of

smoke. Homeowners Robert and Jackie Cochran were safely outside.

Robert Cochran said he smelled smoke right before the smoke

detector went off, and while searching for his wife, he saw a small

fire in the bedroom.

“We think it started in the master bedroom closet,” Robert Cochran

said. “I’m pretty sure that’s where it started.”

According to Jennifer Schulz, public information officer for the

Newport Beach Fire Department, firefighters noticed a significant

amount of smoke as they approached the area.

“Once they were on scene, the residents were already out, so they

knew everyone was OK,” she said.

Inside the home, firefighters found the living space full of

smoke, and additional units were called to ensure that wind did not

spread the fire to any neighboring homes. In all, 27 firefighters

responded to the fire with the assistance of Newport Beach Police.

The Cochrans were planning to leave Wednesday for a vacation in New

Orleans. Clothes Jackie Cochran was preparing to pack were on fire

when Robert looked in the room.

“I hope we’re still going,” Jackie Cochran said as the

firefighters continued putting out the fire in her home, where they

have lived since 1978. They recently had it repainted.

“It took me four times to get through to 911,” Robert Cochran

said. “It was about 1 o’clock, I guess. I think the fire department

did a pretty good job -- they sure did a good job when they got

here.”

Schulz said firefighters finished putting out the fire at 1:48

p.m. The cause is still under investigation.