Two Harbor fires under investigation

The Costa Mesa Fire Department is investigating suspicious blazes at two Harbor Boulevard storefronts.

Crews responded about 5 a.m. Wednesday to reports of flames coming from the back door of a business in a strip mall at 1930 Harbor Blvd., according to a news release from the Fire Department.

After forcing their way into the building, firefighters quickly doused the fire before it spread.

When crews checked the business next door, they found the remnants of a second fire that had already been extinguished. That fire apparently melted a pipe that ended up dumping water on the flames, according to the department.

Investigators say the fires are suspicious because they were so close to each other. They’re working to determine a cause.

Nobody was hurt, and the total damage is yet to be determined.

— Jeremiah Dobruck