Fire in Tustin Damages Complex, Leaves 25 Homeless

A fire that swept through a Tustin apartment complex Thursday destroyed the roofs of two buildings, heavily damaged the apartments and left 25 people homeless.

No deaths or injuries were reported, Orange County Fire Department officials said.

The blaze, which was reported at 3 p.m., started on the wood shingle roof of a building at 1208 Bryan Ave. and then jumped to the roof of an adjoining apartment building. Meanwhile, sparks began spreading to the roofs of adjacent residences, officials said.

When firefighters arrived five minutes later, they found both four-unit buildings “well-involved,” spokesman Lou Furst said. The few residents who were home fled and watched the fire from an alley as hot afternoon winds began to blow.

Firefighters are investigating the origin of the blaze, which caused an estimated $257,000 damage. The fire destroyed one apartment and caused heavy damage to the remaining seven.

“I can’t believe this has happened,” said resident Lori Sheehan as she watched a team of firefighters scramble atop her roof and hose the smoking building. “We just moved into this place 48 hours ago . . . we just had it all furnished and ready to go.”

Furst said it was “very lucky that the fire didn’t spread to any of the other buildings here, even though a few sparks were scattered at first.

“You had to be worried about this particular fire, because of the multiple-unit occupancy here, the wood shingle roofs, the hot day and the prevailing winds,” he said. “The first units who arrived here quickly called for more assistance because they saw the danger.”

The rapidly burning fire drew 40 county firefighters, along with paramedics, Red Cross workers and Tustin police.

Although the fire was contained within 22 minutes, both roofs at 1204 and 1208 Bryan Ave. were extensively burned, and fire crews chopped wooden shingles that continued to smolder long after the blaze was extinguished. The interiors of many apartments were damaged by fire and drenched with water.

Throughout the afternoon, firefighters carted furniture and possessions from the apartments and dumped them on the soggy lawns behind both buildings.

Sheehan’s husband, Curt, said he had “watched the whole roof just burn up. It didn’t take more than a few minutes . . . then it was gone.”

Harry Huggins, a Red Cross spokesman, said the organization was offering food, clothes and emergency lodgings at nearby motels to about 25 people.

“We’ve got everything out there . . . parents, an infant, a 4-year-old girl, a dog, two cats and one bird,” he said. “Obviously, they’re very distressed.”

David Lee, 18, who said he has lived in one of the units for six years, watched as firefighters hosed down the roof of his building. He said he had only “a little bit of hope” that his belongings would be spared.

“What’s going to happen next?” asked Lori Sheehan, as she listened to a Red Cross official explain the assistance that would be available.

“No, don’t let me get started on that one,” she added. “I just stopped crying a few minutes ago. I don’t want to start again.”