Newport Firefighters Injured in Ceiling Collapse

Three firefighters were on the mend Tuesday after suffering mild to moderate injuries while battling a chimney fire in the Big Canyon Community of Newport Beach, a fire official said.

The fire was reported Monday at 7:39 p.m. at a home on Rue Deauville. Jennifer Schulz of the Newport Beach Fire Department said responding firefighters found a blaze in the chimney chase and evacuated the residents. After opening the wall and chimney chases, firefighters saw flames beginning to extend into the attic.

"Firefighters quickly vented the roof and slowed the fire enough for additional firefighters within the structure to pull the drywall ceilings and extinguish the fire," Schulz said in a released statement. "During the incident, three Newport Beach firefighters were injured when the ceiling collapsed on them."

The firefighters were treated at Hoag Hospital and later released with mild to moderate injuries. 

Damage to the home was estimated at $75,000. Schulz said the fire appears to have started in the chimney area, but the cause is still under investigation.

Fireplace safety tips

• Have your chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional at least once a year.
• Use a fireplace for the type of fire it was built for. For example, do not put wood logs in a gas fireplace.
• To ensure proper fireplace assembly, have it checked by a licensed contractor.
• Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
• Maintain smoke alarms. Replace the batteries at least once a year and test them monthly to ensure they are working properly.
• Create a family fire escape plan.
• Make sure you have working fire extinguishers in the home and know how and when to use them.