Porsche, Mercedes Burn but 'Most Of' Las Flores Home Saved

By City News Service

About 40 firefighters saved "most of" a large home in the Las Flores area of unincorporated Orange County early this morning, an Orange County Fire Authority captain said.

The fire was reported before 1:06 a.m. in a 3,500-square-foot house on Shea Ridge, said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi. The first unit was on scene in six minutes and the blaze was under control at 2:11 a.m., he said.

"It most likely started in the garage," Concialdi said. A Porche and a Mercedes inside the garage, both 2012s, were total losses. Two cars in the driveway sustained major damage. Two bedrooms above the attached garage sustained some fire and smoke damage and other parts of the house had smoke damage, he said.

Six adults were inside the house when the fire started, Concialdi said.

A mother, father, daughter, son, the son's friend and an aunt visiting from Peru all got out safely.

The Red Cross was on the scene to assist in making arrangements for the family's lodging, he said, along with the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) in Orange County, a national organization of citizen volunteers who support people who are emotionally traumatized. No physical injuries were reported.

The structure sustained $100,000 in damage estates, while about $350,000 of contents inside were destroyed, Concialdi said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, he said.