San Diego

A fire in a three-story North Park apartment building Sunday caused an estimated $165,000 damage and minor injuries to a neighbor who attempted to put out the blaze.

San Diego Fire Department spokesman Lary Stewart said smoke was billowing from all three floors of the building on Georgia Street when firefighters arrived at 9 a.m. It took 20 firefighters about a half-hour to control the blaze, which started on the lower floor and spread to the upper apartments and the attic.

There were seven people sleeping in the building when the fire started. All escaped safely. The neighbor battling the flames suffered first-degree burns to his arms and face and was listed in good condition at UC San Diego Medical Center, Stewart said.

Metro Arson Strike Team investigators said the fire was caused when vapor from a gasoline container on the first floor was ignited by a refrigerator motor.