DANA POINT : Restaurant Fire Loss Put at $1.3 Million

An early-morning fire, possibly caused by smoldering cigarettes left in a trash can, raced through the landmark Crown House restaurant Friday, causing an estimated $1.3 million in damage.

Orange County Fire Department spokeswoman Kathleen Cha said a sheriff’s deputy spotted thick smoke coming from the restaurant shortly after 3:30 a.m. while on a routine patrol.

County and Laguna Beach firefighters took about 30 minutes to control the two-alarm blaze, which gutted about 30% of the restaurant’s interior. The rest of the restaurant, at Coast Highway and Crown Valley Parkway, was damaged by smoke and heat.

There were no injuries in the blaze, which started well after employees and patrons had left at 2 a.m.

Restaurant owners Jeanne and Bill Peters vowed to rebuild the popular nightspot--a local landmark for more than 21 years--as soon as possible.

“This is home No. 1 for us,” Jeanne Peters said, sifting through the charred remains of the restaurant lounge. “Fortunately, the sheriff’s deputy drove by and saw the smoke coming out.

“We were just getting ready for a wonderful holiday season,” she said. “I haven’t gone into shock yet.”

Later in the morning, investigators determined the fire was caused by smoldering objects, probably cigarettes or ashes, that had been thrown away in a trash can near the bar, Cha said. Firefighters were able to confine most of the fire damage to the bar area.

Inside the lounge, twisted and melted remains of keyboards and amplifiers were left standing on a small stage. Large shards of glass, caused by explosions during the height of the blaze, littered the dance floor.

Entertainer James Harris, who has performed at the restaurant for the past two years, said he figures his group, the J. Harris Band, lost at least $10,000 in musical equipment.

“I’ve got to find me a job and some new equipment,” he said.

Overall, damage in the blaze was estimated at $300,000 to the structure and $1 million to its contents, Cha said.

About 50 employees will be out of work until the restaurant, which was insured, reopens, Jeanne Peters said.