$850,000 in damage in Costa Mesa fire

COSTA MESA — Contents of a garage and home spewed out onto the driveway and into the frontyard of a Mesa Verde home Saturday as Costa Mesa Fire Department investigators tried to determine the cause of a fire in the 2900 block of Andros Street, Costa Mesa Fire Battalion Chief Keith Jones said.

The house, which had clutter stacked from floor to ceiling in some cases, was fully engulfed when fire officials arrived shortly before 10:30 a.m. Saturday, officials said.

Firefighters found it nearly impossible to get into the house, the sideyard or the backyard because of the amount of clutter blocking their way. It took 47 firefighters from four cities two hours to get the fire under control, Jones said.

Investigators sifted through the debris to ensure the fire was indeed out while trying to pinpoint the cause and where the fire started.

Jones estimated that the fire caused about $750,000 in structural damage and $100,000 in damage to the contents of the house. No one was injured.

Next-door neighbor Joe Coons’ home sustained some fire damage. He said his neighbor across the street alerted him that there was a fire next door. They then grabbed hoses, and Coons hosed down his patio furniture and the side of his house.

“It was so hot it ignited the patio furniture, so I hosed that all down,” Coons said.

The back porch awning, parts of the side of his house and some of the furniture was damaged.

Although the Fire Department is not yet sure of the cause, Jones said the amount of clutter in the home certainly impeded firefighters’ ability to battle the heavy blaze.

“When the firefighters tried to get holes in the roof open to let the fire out, they were hitting stuff stacked inside the house — they couldn’t ventilate it,” Jones said after the fire was put out. “But I am pleased they were able to keep the fire confined to the one house.”

The homeowner was near his front door when he heard a couple pops and then saw the fire somewhere near the kitchen, Jones said.

Coons said he was aware the house was cluttered, but he didn’t realize the extent of the mess till firefighters had to cut open a large hole in the garage and break out windows.

Computers, chairs, rolled up rugs, tools, paint, boxes and even a gas can lay on the driveway Saturday afternoon while firefighters took a break from their two-hour fight.

Neighbor Mike Chester said he and his son saw the house on fire before the first fire engine arrived.

“There wasn’t a whole lot of flames then — it was a lot of smoke,” Chester said. “But it got going pretty good.”