NEWPORT BEACH

An early-morning blaze that gutted an apartment garage Monday may have been caused when an automobile exhaust pipe ignited a mattress, authorities said. No one was injured in the fire, but two vehicles inside the garage were badly damaged. The fire began about 12:45 a.m. at an apartment in the 4100 block of Hilaria Way.

Firefighters responded to a 911 call placed by one of the people who lives in the apartment. The garage, which sits below the fourplex, had a column of smoke trailing into the sky. Fourteen firefighters contained the blaze within 15 minutes. Damage was contained to the garage. One vehicle was destroyed, while the other car suffered only exterior damage. Authorities said an old mattress that was stored in the garage was close to a vehicle exhaust pipe and may have smoldered for several minutes before emergency crews were called.