Man Dies in Chollas Creek Apartment Fire

SAN DIEGO, CA — A man found unconscious in an apartment fire Monday night in the Chollas Creek area died while en route to a hospital, an official with the San Diego-Fire Rescue Department said.

The fire at an 11-unit, two-story apartment building located at 3662 Altadena Ave. was reported at 10:54 p.m., said SDFRD Spokesman Lee Swanson.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and fire emanating from a first-floor apartment at rear of the building.

"As fire crews made their initial attack of the fire and began to search, a man was found unconscious in the apartment," Swanson said. "He was taken to Mercy Hospital and pronounced dead en route."

Authorities had not released the victim's identity as of publication time.

Thirty fire personnel responded to the scene.

While the fire caused substantial damage to apartment of origin, Swanson said crews had the blaze knocked down within 15 minutes and "did an excellent job of preventing its spread." There was minimal fire damage to the apartment directly above the unit where the fire first broke out, and light smoke damage to a third apartment, he said.

Red Cross responded and assisted four displaced residents — two men and two women — with finding temporary housing.

Damage was estimated at $200,000 to the building and $50,000 to its contents.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation as of publication time.