Firefighters contain apartment blaze in San Clemente

SAN CLEMENTE – Firefighters have brought under control a blaze in a three-level, four-unit San Clemente apartment complex early Friday afternoon, authorities said.

About 40 firefighters responded to the fire at 242 West El Portal about 1 p.m., Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg McKeown said.

Two buildings were evacuated, but no injuries were reported.

By 1:50 p.m., firefighters had the upper hand on the fire and began knocking it down, McKeown said. The blaze was contained by 2:10 p.m., he said.

“We’ll be on scene for a while making sure the fire is totally out,” McKeown said.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze and how much damage it caused. Eight people, including six adults and two children, were displaced, McKeown said.

HOW THEY GOT OUT

Residents said they believed the fire started in the garage, electrical in origin.

“I was up watching TV,” said a resident who gave his name only as Rob. “I heard yelling, screaming, ‘Get out of the house!’ As soon as i got out on the deck, it was on fire, underneath. So I got out.”

Guy Joseph said he heard people yelling to get out but couldn’t see why, since he lives in one of the rear units. He immediately went outside.

“It was embellished in smoke,” he said. “My wife was upstairs. I immediately got her out and came down and almost got my face burned trying to get my truck out of the driveway, which was right next to where the fire started.

“After that it was just get my neighbor, Dave, awake. He was sleeping. He didn’t even know what was going on. I really yelled and rattled his unit and, thank God, got him out.”

PERSONAL LOSSES

While Joseph got his truck and his wife Brooke’s car safely away, two neighbors’ vehicles burned to a hulk in the driveway.

“Everything in the garages will be a loss, and everything in those front units of those apartments,” Joseph said. “I’ve lived here 11 years. This is a sad day. Everything in our garage is toast – a lot of equipment in there, snowboards and surfboards, full-suspension mountain bikes, and countless memories from our son being born and growing up. All that stuff is just gone. Hold onto that stuff when you can, everyone, because it can go up just that quick.”

Chris Burk, a Saddleback College student, was just leaving Trestles Beach after surfing when he noticed a black plume of smoke coming from somewhere in San Clemente. “I got a call, ‘I think your house is on fire.’ I was walking up the trail. I have to work at 3.”

Burk lived in one of the front unites and said he lost everything he has, and he didn’t have renters’ insurance.

“We’ll see,” he said. “It’s not everything I have, because I’m okay. I’m not hurt, and I have a job. And I’ve got good friends. I’ve been down and out before. We can come back. I’m alive. We’re alive. It’s all in perspective.”

Contact the writer: amolina@ocregister.com or 714-704-3795