Garden Grove : Children With Matches Blamed for Home Fire
Two 5-year-old children playing with matches Monday morning ignited a fire that gutted a home in the 12900 block of Twintree Avenue, officials said. No one was injured in the blaze, which caused an estimated $110,000 in damage to the house.
Left homeless by the blaze were at least 5 people, including the youngsters living in the home, Garden Grove Fire Department Battalion Chief Marvin Schilling said.
The Orange County chapter of the American Red Cross was providing shelter for the family, whose name Schilling said was not immediately available.
He said it was not known how the children escaped the burning home, which is owned by Rosie Magvaleno.
The fire was reported at 8:50 a.m. and began in what Schilling described as a “lean-to” that appeared to have been added to the house. Schilling said it was not clear how many people actually lived in the home because several “cousins, daughters and granddaughters” often visited.
The children were counseled by members of the Fire Department about the dangers of playing with matches and fire, Schilling said.
He said the blaze caused an estimated $100,000 damage to the house, and $10,000 to contents.
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