Combustibles Near Furnace Torch Northridge Townhouse Fire

A fire in a two-story townhouse in Northridge Monday night caused by combustibles placed near a furnace that was turned up because of the cold weather resulted in $40,000 in damage, but no one was injured, a Los Angeles Fire Department official said.

The fire at 19044 Parthenia St., one block west of Wilbur Avenue, caused its five residents to need to seek alternative housing, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. They will be assisted by the Red Cross, Humphrey said.

Firefighters were called to the building at 7:43 p.m. When they arrived, fire was showing from the townhouse which had extended from the first floor to the second and into parts of the attic, Humphrey said.

Thirty firefighters were able to extinguish the fire in 10 minutes, but it left $40,000 worth of damage.

"Luckily, the five occupants escaped with no injuries," Humphrey said.

Had the fire occurred at night when they were sleeping, it might have been a real tragedy, Humphrey said.

Having combustibles, such as newspapers, stacked near the furnace would not matter much in the summer, but can prove troublesome when it is very cold by Southern California standards, Humphrey said.