Fire Damages 4 Units, Displaces Residents

A fire damaged four units of a large apartment complex Wednesday, leaving a dozen people without lodging, authorities said.

The blaze in an eight-unit building at 21516 Lake Forest Drive was reported at 6:18 p.m. and was brought under control about an hour later, said Dennis Shell of the Orange County Fire Authority.

Two apartments on the second floor were destroyed, and the two units beneath had smoke and water damage, Shell said. He estimated the damage total at about $200,000.

Because wind was blowing embers into the neighborhood, 50 to 55 firefighters were sent to the scene as a precaution, and Orange County sheriff’s personnel evacuated part of the area. Two deputies were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, Shell said.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.