Fire Routs 4 Families From Homes in Orange

Four families were evacuated from their apartments in Orange on Sunday after a garage fire destroyed the electrical system for the building, fire officials said.

The fire apparently started near a washer and dryer and quickly burned through combustible material stacked from the floor to the ceiling in a downstairs garage, said Battalion Chief Frank Eickhoff.

It took fire crews from Orange, Anaheim and the Orange County Fire Authority 43 minutes to control the blaze, he said.

The 4 p.m. fire caused about $15,000 in damage to the contents of the garage and another $10,000 to the building in the 3000 block of East Mayfair Avenue, Eickhoff said.

The Orange County chapter of the Red Cross provided one of the displaced families with motel vouchers and meals. The others sought shelter with relatives, officials said. A cat belonging to one of the families also was rescued.

“This is a good reminder to have everyone check their smoke detectors,” Eickhoff said. “And if you have a lot of clutter in your garage, remove as much as possible.”