Man Injured in Fire After Candle Ignites Bed

COSTA MESA — One man was injured in a fire that started when a candle ignited a bed and destroyed an upper-floor apartment, causing an estimated $70,000 in damage, fire officials said.

Ron Forbess, 24, was burned after he opened a bedroom door and was struck by intense heat and flames, said Susan Wood, Costa Mesa Fire Department spokeswoman.

“Forbess said that he had a candle burning on the floor, and he said he moved the bed, not realizing that the candle was under it,” Wood said. “When the bed caught fire, it ignited the bedroom and he heard the crackling and smelled smoke.”

Forbess opened the bedroom door and was greeted “with a whoosh” of flames and hot air, Wood said.

Wood described Forbess’ injuries as minor but he was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian for observation.

Forbess’ roommate was uninjured.

The fire destroyed an upper apartment in the 100 block of 22nd Street, damaged two apartments below and caused smoke and heat damage to a neighbor’s home.

Chris Viloria, 36, who lives nearby, said he was having dinner with his daughter, Samantha Jade, 3, when a woman began banging on his front door yelling for him to dial 911.

“I didn’t hear anything until this woman, a stranger, saw the fire and banged on my door and told me to call the fire department.” Viloria said. “I looked over and I could see flames flying 15 feet above the apartment and on the balcony.”