Investigators Tackle Church Blazes With Devotion

Orange County fire officials said Sunday that an arsonist set a weekend fire that caused $1.5 million in damage to an Irvine Co. luxury-apartment complex under construction on Irvine Boulevard near Culver Drive.

“We don’t have any suspects right now, but the investigators are questioning potential witnesses in the area,” Orange County Fire Capt. Paul Hunter said.

Hunter would not say what evidence investigators found to determine that the 11:20 p.m. blaze Friday was intentionally set. It is still too early to release many details, he said.

Irvine Co. officials said Sunday they do not suspect anyone with the company was responsible for the fire, which destroyed four partially completed buildings in the Solana apartment complex. Other buildings, further along in construction, were not damaged and will open as scheduled in November, said Jennifer Smith, an Irvine Co. spokeswoman.

Company officials do not know who might have started the fire, she said.

“We’re obviously very concerned and relieved that no one was injured,” Smith said. “We hadn’t received any warning or threats that this might occur, and we’re leaving it up to the Fire Department to continue on in their investigation.”

Rent for one-bedroom Solana apartments will start at $1,525 a month, two-bedroom units, at least $1,675 a month and three-bedroom units, $1,975 a month, according to a company Web site.

Solana was designed as a gated complex with more than 300 apartments with individual alarm systems, high-speed Internet access and individual garages, according to Smith and the Web site.

Hunter, the fire captain, said there was a security fence around the construction site with access gates for workers. He also said the damaged apartments did not have electricity, but the complex had electrical wiring so contractors could use their tools.

More than 75 firefighters--equipped with 17 engines and four ladder trucks--battled for more than 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

Between 50 and 75 people were evacuated from nearby condominiums about midnight Friday because firefighters worried that winds might carry burning embers over the homes, Hunter said. Those evacuated were allowed to return home about two hours later, Hunter said.

County fire authorities do not believe the Irvine fire is linked to the Aug. 17 arson at St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church in Fullerton, Hunter said.