Family of 5 displaced by fire at their Costa Mesa home
A family of five escaped a fire that heavily damaged their Costa Mesa home early Wednesday, authorities said.
About 20 firefighters responded to 996 Azalea Drive at about 1:30 a.m., Costa Mesa fire Capt. Chris Coates said.
When they arrived, firefighters found a man trying to fight the fire by spraying water from a hose through the front window of the home, Coates said.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze within about 10 minutes.
The man was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and was taken to a hospital, Coates said. Nobody else was injured.
Fire investigators were notified by Southern California Edison that power had been out in the area Tuesday night and the family had been using candles to light their home, Coates said.
Coates said the family fell asleep while the candles were lit and a couch in the living room caught fire.
Coates said the house was badly damaged but that firefighters were able to contain the flames to the room where the fire started.
The American Red Cross was called to help the displaced family.
Twitter: @benbrazilpilot
