House Fires Erupt Across OC Independence Day; Firefighters Save Dog

MISSION VIEJO, CA — Orange County firefighters were hard at work Thursday night, when four homes caught fire after July 4 celebrations.

The firefighters were reported in Mission Viejo and Lake Forest, with two fires igniting in Westminster. No one was injured in the house fires, police said.

The latest fire was reported about 5:30 a.m. Friday in the 13000 block of Chestnut Street, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. There was no immediate indication that fireworks was involved in any of them, but their cause remained under investigation, the OCFA reported.

"In addition to fighting the fire, the crews ensured all 10 occupants were out of the house," the OCFA said in a statement on X. "Firefighters also performed salvage operations to save as many of the residents' belongings as possible. This was the fourth well-involved house fire that occurred last night."

About 9 p.m. Thursday, firefighters sent to the 21000 block of Jinetes in Mission Viejo found a two-story home well involved in fire, the OCFA said.

"To complicate matters, the fire was threatening adjacent homes, and we were told a dog was still inside," the OCFA said. "Our team simultaneously searched the home and attacked the fire. Fortunately, we were able to rescue the dog — injury-free — and reunite him with his owner. The rapid fire attack also saved the adjacent homes from going up in flames."

Firefighters also extinguished residential fires that were reported about 9 p.m. Thursday in the 6400 block of Iroquois Road in Westminster, and about 2:15 a.m. Friday in the 26000 block of Rio Hondo Circle in Lake Forest.