SANTA ANA : At Least 15 Homeless After $300,000 Blaze

An arsonist torched an apartment building early Thursday morning and left an extended family of 15 homeless, city fire officials said.

Eight adults and seven children were safely evacuated from their two-story, two-bedroom apartment.

The Fire Department received several 911 calls about 4 a.m., reporting a blaze at the Olive Grove Apartments in the 2800 block of North Bristol Street, said Karl Ellman, a department spokesman.

When firefighters arrived at the two-story, four-unit building, the roof and second floor were afire. The fire was contained within 30 minutes, Ellman said.

Arson investigators said the fire was apparently set in an unoccupied apartment next to the family. The two remaining units were vacant, Ellman said.

Red Cross officials, who are helping the victims to relocate, learned later Thursday that another couple could have been living with the family and could also be homeless.

Fire officials declined to explain why they suspect arson and estimated structural damage at $300,000.

Robyn Uptegraff, executive director of the city’s Planning Department, said the apartment building had decayed under previous ownership but credited the current owner, the Cooper Fellowship, with “making progress and showing a good-faith effort” to revive the property.

“The complex has very nice floor plans,” Uptegraff said. “But it has lacked maintenance and deteriorated over the years. It has been the site of criminal infestation.”