Tustin office fire: $3.5 million in damage
TUSTIN – A stubborn fire inside a two-story building that firefighters battled for more than two hours caused an estimated $3.5 million in damages, authorities said Wednesday.
Two firefighters were injured in the blaze, which spread quickly from an office space on the first floor of the building through the front of the 50,000-square-foot structure.
A 62-year-old man, inside the office space where the fire is believed to have been ignited, suffered minor singes to his face, authorities said.
No cause has been determined in the blaze, and officials said it may be a couple of days before investigators can sift through the ruble to determine what started the fire.
"It's an extensive dig," said Battalion Chief Kris Concepcion of the Orange County Fire Authority. "It's a large structure and there's a lot of damage."
Firefighters received several reports of the fire Tuesday morning, including a call from the 62-year-old man inside a mental health office who reported his couch was on fire, Concepcion said.
Firefighters responding to the flames at 7:39 a.m. reported seeing a large plume of black smoke from a mile away; the flames quickly grew.
Nearly 120 county, Santa Ana and Orange firefighters fought the blaze at 17291 Irvine Blvd. Tuesday morning.
The fire is believed to have caused $2.5 million in damages to the office building, and $1 million to the contents, he said.
Two firefighters were injured during the operation. An Orange firefighter fell during the operation and suffered injuries to his face and legs, Concepcion said. An OCFA firefighter also suffered from possible heat exhaustion.
The OCFA firefighter was held overnight at a local hospital for observation and expected to be released Wednesday, Concepcion said.
An Orange firefighter was taken to a local hospital and released the same day, said Capt. Ed Engler of the Orange Fire Department.
"He's at home, mending," Engler said.
The building is home to several businesses, including legal firms, mental health services and real estate offices. The building is about 40 years old.
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