BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Unguarded candle causes $15,000 damage

An unattended candle resulted in a fire that caused $15,000 in damage to a Newport Beach apartment late Tuesday, fire officials said.

Newport Beach firefighters responded to a Balboa Peninsula apartment at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday and found smoke coming from a locked unit on the first floor of the complex.

No one was home when the fire broke out and no other residents were injured. Firefighters rescued a cat.

Firefighters found the source of the fire was a candle left burning in the bathroom.

Blood drive set to support lifeguards

Newport Beach lifeguards are urging community members to turn out July 26 to donate blood and support the Newport Lifeguards in the California Lifeguards Blood Drive Contest.

The blood drive, held together with the American Red Cross, will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. at lifeguard headquarters at the base of the Newport Pier.

The drive is a contest between Southern California Lifeguard agencies to provide as much blood as possible for people in need. There is room for 150 donors. To sign up, call the Newport Beach Fire Department, (949) 644-3178, or register online, www.givelife.org.