Apartment fire cause unknown

There were no working smoke detectors and nine people were living in a two-bedroom apartment that caught fire in Costa Mesa over the weekend, officials said Monday.

“There were either no smoke detectors or none with batteries at the time of fire,” Costa Mesa Battalion Chief William Kershaw said. “That’s why we’re reminding everyone to remember to change the batteries.”

An 11-year-old boy discovered the blaze Sunday morning and then told other family members, Kershaw said. The boy was later taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach and was treated and released for smoke inhalation. The rest of the family escaped with no serious injuries, Kershaw said.

The blaze is believed to have started in a back bedroom at the apartment complex, 879 Center Street, but investigators are still looking for clues as to its cause, Kershaw said.

Six families were still displaced from the fire Monday, Red Cross officials said. The Red Cross was providing the families lodging in local hotels.

Firefighters responded to a fire call about 9:15 a.m. Sunday and reported flames blowing out of a second floor window. One unit of the apartment complex was destroyed. Another suffered water damage. Forty firefighters responded from Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Santa Ana fire departments. Three Costa Mesa police officers assisted in evacuation of adjacent apartment units.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at brianna.bailey@latimes.com.