Apartment Fire Displaces Family

A morning blaze gutted an apartment Thursday, displacing a family of three and killing nine of the family’s 11 pets.

No people were injured.

The fire broke out about 11 a.m. at an apartment in a fourplex in the 2200 block of Delaware Street, Huntington Beach Fire Department spokeswoman Martha Werth said.

Donna Armenta, 35, who lived at the apartment with her boyfriend, 10-year-old daughter, 10 cats and an iguana, told officials she was home alone and sleeping on the living room couch when the fire started.

Fire officials said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Armenta said she believes it was started by an electrical short.

“We had a small electrical fire [Wednesday] night,” she said. “We put it out and turned off the breakers. I was so scared I stayed up all night on the sofa. And of course when I fell asleep it started again.”

Armenta said she awoke to find flames engulfing her bedroom. She fled and called for help.

A team of about 30 firefighters brought the flames under control within 20 minutes.

Seven cats were killed. Firefighters managed to resuscitate two others, but Armenta said she had them put to sleep because they suffered major burns.

One cat, named Clyde, and Turbo the iguana survived the fire, Armenta said.

Fire officials said the total estimated loss was $80,000. The Red Cross assisted the family by providing lodging and clothing.