Fire Chews Through Apartment, Displaces Residents: OCFA

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — A two-alarm fire chewed through an apartment unit in Rancho Santa Margarita Christmas Day and displaced several residents, the Orange County Fire Authority reported.

The fire was reported in a second-story unit of an apartment complex on Via Amitosa at around 8:25 p.m., authorities said.

The charge of the fire prompted a response of roughly 60 firefighters as well as sheriff's deputies, who were able to evacuate the residents in the apartment building, as well as isolate the fire to the single unit.

"Thank you Red Cross for assisting approximately 22 residents who were impacted by the incident," the Orange County Fire Authority. "And thank you OCSD for assisting residents in a safe evacuation."

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

No further information was immediately available.