2 Fires Damage Apartments, Autos

Two fires in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys caused extensive damage Monday morning, burning several cars and apartments and destroying thousands of dollars’ worth of property, authorities said.

A carport fire in Sherman Oaks caused about $80,000 in damage, burning three automobiles, authorities said.

The fire occurred just after 9 a.m. at a two-story apartment complex in the 14900 block of Dickens Street, said Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke at the rear of the complex, where the carport was engulfed in flame, Humphrey said.

The intense heat had already blown out windows in two units above the carport.

It took 25 firefighters about 20 minutes to put out the flames.

The two residents of the damaged dwellings were moved to other units in the complex.

The origin of the fire was suspicious and remained under investigation, Humphrey said, but it was not believed to be related to other carport fires that have occurred around the city recently.

Another fire damaged six units in a two-story apartment building in Santa Clarita, authorities said.

No one needed to be evacuated due to the blaze, which began about 11:30 a.m. in the 19300 block of Stillmore Street, said Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Henry Rodriguez. One bystander was treated at the scene for a cut hand.