Chimney to Blame for $4 Million San Juan Capistrano Fire

Investigators have determined the cause of a two-alarm fire that caused $4 million in damage to a San Juan Capistrano home Sunday.

The blaze started with the chimney area of the home when a fire was lit with the chimney’s flue closed, said Orange County Fire Authority Captain Larry Kurtz.

Firefighters received the report of flames in the attic of the home on the 26000 block of Calle Roberto at 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

“There was a large party at the house at the time, but no one was hurt,” said Kurtz. “They were lucky.”

The home’s smoke detectors did not go off because the blaze spread through the attic, and there wasn’t any smoke in the home below, added Kurtz. Someone standing outside the home noticed the smoke and flames.

Firefighters were able to put out the blaze by 1:39 a.m. The fire caused $4 million in damage - $3 million in structural damage, and $1 million in damage to the home’s contents. The house is no longer inhabitable.

Photo: Courtesy of the Orange County Fire Authority