Short Circuit May Have Caused Newport Beach House Fire

A short circuit caused by a nail puncturing the insulation of an electrical wire is likely what caused a house fire on Harbor Ridge Drive, according to a press release from the Newport Beach Fire Department.

No one was injured in the fire, which was reported about 11 p.m by a neighbor who was walking a dog nearby and saw fire at the rear of the house, the release said.

Responding firefighters attacked the blaze from inside the house and from on top of the roof, stopping the fire from spreading further through the home or to neighboring houses, the release said. The fire was knocked out within 40 minutes.

Damage to the home, which had construction work being done on it, was estimated at $100,000, the release said.