Arson investigation launched after Fountain Valley carport fire burns 35 cars, spreads to apartments
A fire at a Fountain Valley apartment complex early Saturday damaged or destroyed at least 35 cars and temporarily displaced residents in 15 apartments; and arson investigators were called in.
Authorities received a call about the blaze at The Havens apartments, 10275 Slater Ave., at around 2:42 a.m., Fountain Valley Fire Capt. Nick Fasullo said.
No one was injured in the three-alarm fire, Fasullo said. Heat and smoke damage was found in “multiple” apartments near the carport, fire officials said, and occupants of 15 units were sent to a local hotel.
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Fasullo said in a news release that more than 17 cars burned. An additional 18 cars directly across the alley were also damaged by heat from the fire, he said.
Orange County Fire Authority arson investigators and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives personnel were at the scene investigating the incident as arson, Sgt. Jennifer Pratt of the Fountain Valley Police Department said.
“They believe it was not accidental,” she said.
Resident Kirk Hayhurst, 59, heard explosions and loud bangs at about 2:45 a.m. Moments later, he heard sirens.
When he stepped out to see what was happening, he saw a large wall of fire behind an apartment building over the carport on the west side of the complex.
“They were huge, huge flames. It was like something out of a horror movie,” he said. “I hadn’t seen flames that high in years.”
He watched as firefighters put out the blaze. “You could just see the plastic melting off the cars,” he said.
Brian Nagle, 50, said he lost his brand new car in the fire.
“I had just gotten it a month ago,” he said. “I was planning on starting a new business and all my stuff was in that car.”
He said police were already on site early Saturday morning, investigating a dumpster fire toward the back of the complex when the carport fire started.
The men also said someone reported hearing tires screech from the back of the complex at about 2:45 a.m.
The 17-acre, two-story apartment complex has 440 units.
Fountain Valley firefighters were assisted in battling the carport blaze by Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Garden Grove firefighters, as well as the OCFA.