Residents temporarily displaced after fire

A structure fire was reported at a condominium complex in the 21700 block of Ocean Vista Drive on Thursday night.

An upper-floor unit was emitting significant amounts of heat, smoke and fire, according to a Laguna Beach Fire Department press release.

Residents on the lower level reported that at 7:15 p.m. they heard “crackling noises” and a smoke alarm go off on the upper level of the condo. When a resident went up to investigate, he noticed flames coming from the kitchen area of another residence.

Division Chief Dan Stefano said in a statement that the firefighters did an “outstanding job of stopping this fire and confining it to one floor.”

The firefighters were also able to find the resident’s cat and save it, the release said.

The American Red Cross responded to temporarily assist the affected residents with housing.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but firefighters believe it began in the kitchen. There were no injuries reported, and the damages are estimated at $500,000.

— Joanna Clay

Twitter: @JoannaClay