Car Fire Scorches Costa Mesa Home : Blaze: The trouble began when owner turned ignition in vehicle she hoped to sell and it burst into flames. Damage is estimated at $150,000.

A fire that started inside a used car up for sale caused about $150,000 in damage to a home Saturday morning.

No injuries were reported in the fire, which damaged the garage and second-story master bedroom as well as three cars inside the garage.

Fire officials said the blaze started about 8 a.m. when Jackie Peters, the owner of the home, turned on the ignition to her 1979 Mercury Cougar in anticipation of the arrival of a potential buyer later in the morning.

The car’s catalytic converter overheated, sending flames and smoke out of the car. Peters, 59, and her son Scott Peters, 30, were able to douse the flames with a garden hose, but the converter continued to overheat, starting a second fire that quickly began to burn the garage and master bedroom directly above it, according to Susan Mora Wood, spokeswoman for the Costa Mesa Fire Department.

Firefighters arrived at the Mandarin Drive home about 8:40 a.m. and had the fire under control within 40 minutes. Twenty-six crew members fought the blaze.

The Cougar, which had 40,000 miles on it and was being sold for $3,000, as well as a Volkswagen Bug and a new Honda Accord were damaged in the fire.

Greg Peters, the owner’s son, said her mother has both home and auto insurance.

“I had just talked to her 10 minutes before the fire,” said Greg Peters, who had planned to bring his son to stay the day at the home. “When I turned the corner, it was quite a mess.”

The American Red Cross provided clothes, food and prescription glasses to the victims.