Alerted by Horns, Residents Flee Fire
Residents who were alerted by passersby honking their car horns narrowly escaped flames that severely damaged their McFadden Avenue duplex on Sunday.
“We heard the cars honking and we ran outside,” said Nan Thach, one of 11 residents at 9571 McFadden Ave. “They were telling us to ‘Get Out! Get Out!’ We barely got out.”
Although the fire caused considerable damage to the duplex, no one was injured, said Battalion Chief David Pierce of the Orange County Fire Authority. The fire occurred around 3:20 p.m.
“It appears it started in the rear area of the duplex, possibly in the garage,” Pierce said.
When the first firefighters arrived, they saw flames shooting high into the sky and the wood shingle roof fully engulfed. The sight prompted them to call in a second alarm.
About 20 firefighters from Westminster, Garden Grove and the Fire Authority responded.
Pierce said flames spread rapidly through the structure because of the wood shingles and an open attic above the duplex’s living space.
The fire’s cause is under investigation. No damage estimate was immediately available.
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