Fire Officials Pinpoint Cause of Lake Elsinore Blaze

A smoldering cigarette left next to a recliner caused a recent apartment fire in Lake Elsinore, according to fire department officials.

Firefighters were dispatched at 2:24 a.m. Saturday to the Lake Elsinore Village Apartments at 150 E. Lakeshore Dr. They saw smoke coming from a joint attic vent of the five-unit apartment complex, Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman Melody Hendrickson said.

The fire was contained within 40 minutes to one apartment and no other units were threatened.

Damages were estimated at $100,000, but firefighters saved $600,000 in contents, Hendrickson said.

— City News Service.