La Mesa Apartment Fire Displaces 5 Residents

LA MESA, CA — A midday fire damaged three dwelling units Thursday at a large apartment complex near Grossmont Center mall, displacing five people, authorities reported.

The non-injury blaze erupted just before 1 p.m. in the 8700 block of Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa, north of Interstate 8 and just west of state Route 125, according to Heartland Fire & Rescue.

It took crews about 20 minutes to subdue the flames, which damaged a single vacant residence, said Andy McKellar, spokesman for the East County emergency-services agency.

Two other units sustained water damage from a built-in fire-sprinkler system in the three-story building. The residents of those apartments were able to arrange for interim housing on their own, not needing help from the Red Cross, McKellar said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

— City News Service