Santa Ana : Fire That Cut Telephone Service Called Accident
A Santa Ana fire that cut telephone service to 11,000 Orange County customers last month was accidentally started, fire officials said Thursday.
The Feb. 22 fire damaged 18 major Pacific Bell telephone cables attached to the underside of the 60-year-old Main Street bridge in Santa Ana.
“We have no evidence to prove it was arson,” Santa Ana Fire Department Inspector Don MacDonald said. The fire started in a small wedge-shaped area under the bridge where the creek embankment rises to meet the road.
The area was inhabited by transients, who left blankets, candles and matches behind, MacDonald said.
In addition to telephone outages, the fire played havoc with business computer communications and burglar alarm systems throughout the county. Damage was estimated at more than $1 million.
The area is being guarded while workers complete construction on a metal-plated housing to protect the cables.
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