Fire officials find heater to be cause of blaze

A small, portable heater caused a fire that killed a Costa Mesa family’s dog and damaged neighboring homes, fire officials said Monday.

“We don’t know if it was human error, such as being too close to combustibles, or if it was a malfunction of the unit,” said Battalion Chief Bill Kershaw.

About 7:15 p.m. Friday, firefighters were called to a home in the 200 block of Magnolia Street. When they arrived, the home was engulfed in flames, and the flames were dangerously close to spreading to neighbors.

Firefighters kept that from happening but were unable to save the family’s dog in the home. Officials estimate the property and personal damage at more than $400,000, Kershaw said.

No one at the home was injured. Firefighters want to remind the public to be careful when using space heaters. They should be kept off the ground and out of walking paths and should never be left unattended.

— Joseph Serna