3 Southland Fires Erupt; 40 Anaheim Families Homeless

More than 40 families were homeless, four houses and two apartment complexes were in ruins and 600 acres of brushland were blackened Thursday in three major fires at separate locations in Southern California.

Damage was estimated at more than $8 million.

But firefighters called it a day of good fortune, nonetheless.

“No one was killed,” said Anaheim fire and police spokeswoman Sheri Erlewine. “One fireman and one civilian were injured, but not too seriously. They were treated at the scene. Everyone else escaped. I call that the best luck anyone could ask for, all things considered.”

The day’s first fire--blamed on illegal fireworks--was at the Casa de Valencia Apartments, 2633 E. La Palma Ave., a large apartment complex in Anaheim, where about 250 tenants were routed from their beds by a pre-dawn blaze that did damage estimated at $2.2 million.

Anaheim authorities said more than 100 firefighters from the Anaheim and Orange County fire departments fought the flames that broke out about 3 a.m. and were brought under control by 6:10 a.m.

Tenants recalled hearing loud bangs and popping noises that they identified as fireworks being set off by a group of young men sitting near or on cars in front of the complex.

Fire officials said fireworks ignited the building’s wood shake roof, and the building’s “common attic,” which lacked partitions or fire walls, allowed the flames to sweep though the adjoining structures unimpeded.

Sleepy-eyed tenants fled to safety--some clad only in nightclothes--as flames soared 25 to 30 feet into the sky. Evacuees were sent to a nearby Red Cross shelter at an elementary school.

More than four unexploded skyrockets were found by fire investigators in front of the apartment complex. In addition, remnants of illegal “bottle” rockets were found scattered in a front garden area where pieces from exploded “safe-and-sane” fireworks that had been altered were also found.

Tenant Karen Potter, 19, said she was awakened by the popping noises--and discovered that someone had tossed an ignited firecracker through her bedroom window.

“We had no screens and it came inside my window and exploded inside,” said Potter, who was visibly shaken.

Potter said she looked out the window and noticed a car with three men standing nearby shooting fireworks. Based on interviews with tenants, fire investigators said the three were part of a larger group of revelers who are being sought for questioning.

The second major fire of the day was even more destructive--but no one’s home was lost.

A three-story apartment complex still under construction at Grove Avenue and 8th Street in Rancho Cucamonga was destroyed by a fire that began shortly before noon in the space between two half-finished buildings, and was out of control by the time fire units arrived about five minutes later, according to Chief Dennis Michael of the Foothill Fire Protection District.

The flames were finally controlled after more than two hours by 45 firefighters, but not before causing damage estimated at $5.5 million to 192 units.

Cause of the fire was under investigation.

Third Fire Erupts

About an hour later, the third major fire erupted in thick brush near the corner of 107th Street West and Leona Avenue in the Leona Valley community, about 10 miles east of Palmdale International Airport.

Driven by winds that gusted to 25 m.p.h. at times, the blaze roared through Leona Valley, destroying four homes, two garages and a barn, damaging several other structures, and forcing evacuation of a dozen families before shifting northeastward.