Apartment Blaze Ruled Not Accidental

Fire investigators said Tuesday the blaze that roared through the Gatewood Ridge Apartments, burning 31 units and causing $1 million in damage, wasn’t an accident.

“They didn’t find any evidence of a candle or any open flame device, anything that could be ruled as an accidental cause for fire,” said Tabby Cato, spokeswoman for the Anaheim Fire Department. “It’s definitely suspicious.”

While fire investigators searched burned apartments and interviewed residents, the Anaheim Police Department gang task force examined graffiti found in three of the apartments.

Meanwhile, the 102 fire victims returned to their damaged and destroyed homes Tuesday, finding little that was salvageable.

A charred bicycle with training wheels lay crushed in what used to be a fenced-in porch. Sofa cushions had become ashes, leaving only a frame leaning against the wall. Socks, clothes and a doll were strewn across the rooms, and water still dripped from the ceilings.

They picked through the charred remains, searching for any of their personal belongings. Most walked away with a bundle of clothing, a couple of pictures and some appliances that might no longer work.

Romeo Perez spent half an hour Tuesday morning pulling items out of his two-bedroom apartment he shared with his parents and another couple.

“All of it’s wet,” Perez said. “The beds, everything.”

Though burned, his apartment was not destroyed. He piled a stereo, guitar, sombrero, clothes, a comforter, stuffed animals and a leather jacket outside in the sun to dry.

He estimated that the fire destroyed about $5,000 worth of personal belongings. He had moved in just two days before the blaze.

“It’s just my luck,” he said. “We’re sad because we lost it all.”

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter and service center at Kraemer Middle School in Placentia. While students are away on spring break this week, volunteers will work to provide emergency assistance.

Churches, grocery stores and individuals also have offered meals and clothing to ease the loss. And a Knott’s Berry Farm Snoopy played with children Tuesday and passed out dolls.

Of the 31 apartments burned, seven were destroyed, 10 partially ruined and 14 incurred water damage. The apartments with closed doors were less severely damaged than others, fire officials said.

“The doors were able to keep some of the fire out,” Cato said. “Fire moves quickly and you just want to get out. It’s just habit--some people close doors, some don’t.”

The fire traveled quickly because of a common hallway that ran the full length of one side of the apartment complex, she explained. The apartments do not share a common attic, which originally was considered the reason for the fast spread.

This is the second major fire at the apartment complex. In 1971, when the building was being constructed, a plumber’s torch ignited a fire resulting in 144 burned apartments.