Updated: Condo Fire Injures 9, Toddlers and Woman in Grave Condition

A fire in a San Juan Capistrano condominium left nine people injured today, including a woman and her two sons, 2 and 3 years old, who were all in “grave” condition.

Firefighters were sent to the 26500 block of La Zanja Street at 9:15 a.m. and extinguished the flames in the second-floor unit, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.

Firefighters rescued the boys and the 20-year-old woman, who were taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo in “grave condition,” Concialdi said. The mother was later taken to UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange to be treated at that hospital’s burn unit, he added.

Concialdi said that the cause of the fire was “most likely a juvenile playing with a lighter in the living room.”

He said the fire caused $180,000 damage to the structure and $40,000 damage to the contents.

About 80 residents were displaced by the fire, Concialdi said. Eight condos were damaged, including two by fire, Concialdi said. Eight adults and nine children were living in one of the units, Concialdi said.

Neighbors helped rescue a mother in her mid-20s and her 3-year-old and 2- year-old daughters, Concialdi said.

“The fire was so intense she could not get to the front door so she ran to a window in the back and other neighbors in the alley below yelled to her to throw the kids down to them, and that’s what she did,” Concialdi said. The two tots suffered smoke inhalation, but were otherwise unharmed, Concialdi said.

The woman jumped to safety, cushioning her fall with a toddler-sized mattress neighbors put down for her, Concialdi said. She was taken to Saddleback Hospital in San Clemente in moderate condition to be treated for smoke inhalation, the captain said.

Another woman, who is in her late 40s, described as a grandmother, suffered a serious leg injury when she jumped from the burning building and missed the mattress, Concialdi said. She also suffered burns and was eventually taken to UCI in serious condition, Concialdi said.

A five-year-old boy was also tossed to safety and another 7-year-old boy managed to get out of the burning building by himself, according to Concialdi. They were taken to Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach to be treated for “moderate” smoke inhalation-related injuries.

“There were smoke alarms, but unfortunately they did not have batteries in them,” Concialdi said.

The family dog was found hiding inside the unit by firefighters conducting a secondary search, and the animal was given oxygen, Concialdi said.

Thousands of smoke alarms have been donated to the OCFA and are available to families in need, Concialdi said. Anyone interested in obtaining an alarm was urged to call (714) 573-6190.Other Local News

Teachers Had Sex with Students at San Clemente Beach, Police Allege

Should Unvaccinated Students be Forced to Stay Home During Measles Outbreak?

• City News Service
• Photo Credit: OCFA, Firefighter cares for the family dog rescued from the burning home.