Discarded Cigarettes Cause Separate Fires in La Habra

A 53-year-old smoker set his legs ablaze while another man caused an estimated $50,000 in damage in two separate fires in La Habra, both sparked by discarded cigarettes, authorities said Saturday.

In the first blaze, which began about 9:20 p.m. Friday, a man suffered second- and third-degree burns and was taken by helicopter to UC Irvine Medical Center’s burn unit, said acting La Habra Battalion Chief Bob Lee.

“It looks like he fell asleep,” Lee said. “The wife smelled the smoke and got him out of bed, luckily.”

Fire officials blamed a discarded cigarette for triggering the blaze, which caused about $25,000 damage to the couple’s mobile home on West Lambert Road.

The second fire started just after 3 p.m. Saturday in the 900 block of Amanda Lane. As firefighters arrived, flames were shooting out the front bedroom window.

Residents at the home said someone tossed a spent cigarette into a trash can near the bed, Lee said. Firefighters had the blaze under control in about 10 minutes.

No one was injured, but flames and smoke caused about $50,000 in damage, he said.