Early Morning Fire Damages Newport Home

A home caught fire early today in Newport Beach, but no one was injured, a fire captain reported.

The fire broke out at 417 Aliso Avenue just before 7 a.m. Residents who were home when the blaze started told responding firefighters they smelled smoke early in the morning, but could not find where it was coming, according to Newport Beach Fire Capt. Glenn White

"As the odor grew stronger they were led to a second story back room of the home where they could see some smoke and could feel heat on the ceiling behind the drywall," White said in a released statement.

Firefighters found a fire burning above the ceiling between the second story room and the patio deck. The blaze was extinguished within 15-20 minutes and no injuries were reported.

White said a roof top patio and a room over the garage were destroyed by the fire and the damage estimate was $65,000.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but appears to have been accidental, White said. Twenty-one firefighters responded to the fire on Aliso Avenue, including some from the Costa Mesa Fire Department.

The 400 block of Aliso was closed to vehicle traffic, but has since reopened.

The Newport Beach Fire Department said if a resident smells smoke and it seems out of place, they should use the back of their hand to feel the walls and ceilings for signs of unusual heat.

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