Fire at Makeshift Motel Displaces 12

An Anaheim-area house modified into a maze of more than a dozen tiny bedrooms--some no bigger than walk-in closets--was condemned by county officials Thursday after a fragrance candle sparked a late-night blaze that displaced 12 residents.

The house--originally built as a one-story, two-bedroom stucco home in an unincorporated part of Orange County--had been remodeled by its owner, Robert Truong, 65, into a makeshift motel for family members, authorities and relatives said.

Many of the family guests who stayed at the house on the 9900 block of Pacific Avenue were college students in need of a cheap place to stay. It was unclear whether all were guests or paying tenants.

Building inspectors said Thursday that the house has been condemned because of the fire and that an investigation has been launched to determine if any building codes were violated as the house was expanded over the years into a two-story, 2,700-square-foot structure.

The 1950s-era home was purchased by Truong in 1989 for $162,000 and now has an assessed value of $190,000, according to county records. Recent property records still list the house as a 1,134-square foot, single-story dwelling with two bedrooms and two baths.

Josh McDonald, a spokesman for the Orange County planning department, would not comment on any permits sought or the number of rooms that had been added to the home.

“I cannot comment about any investigations. . . . I can say, ‘That’s a lot of rooms, though.’ ”

Circumstances surrounding the fire were unusual from the beginning: Wednesday night, paramedics arrived at the house to treat Truong’s wife, Kim, who was having trouble breathing. She was OK.

While there, paramedics noticed smoke coming from a mildewed wall of the home. Relatives explained that in the panic over Kim Truong’s breathing trouble, somebody forgot about a candle burning on a table of framed photographs. Besides, relatives said, it is easy to forget such things when so many live in one home. Firefighters put out the blaze.

Tom Anh, a nephew who was the only resident who remained Thursday afternoon, said he had been staying in the house as a guest. He said Truong is a fierce advocate for his extended family to get educations.

Truong said in a brief interview Thursday that he is an entrepreneur and holds a doctorate in education. Anh, a 23-year-old business student at Cal State Fullerton, said the doctorate is Truong’s proudest achievement, even though he no longer teaches.

“He always looks at his (graduation) picture in his black robe,” Anh said. Anh said providing a place to stay for nephews and nieces and other relatives was an example of his uncle “doing his part.” The home also was used by other family members, including Truong’s father and mother.

Fire officials and building inspectors would not allow anyone other than residents to enter the house Thursday. Truong, who was haggling with inspectors and insurance agents at the house, said he could not comment other than to say, “I’m broke now.”

According to Lynn Howes, a spokeswoman for the the Orange County chapter of the Red Cross, the displaced residents are being housed temporarily at a motel. Authorities said the fire caused $15,000 in damage.

Staff writer Thuy-Doan Le contributed to this report.