Hot cigarette sparked apartment fire, officials say

A lighted cigarette improperly thrown away caused a blaze that scorched a second-story apartment Monday morning, fire officials concluded Tuesday.

About 10:30 a.m. Monday, Costa Mesa firefighters were called to a fire in a two-story apartment complex at 362 Grenoble Lane. When they arrived, firefighters saw smoke coming from a second-story window and aggressively attacked the fire and kept it from spreading to neighboring buildings.

Fire officials sent three engines, one truck, a rescue squad and a total of 21 firefighters.

Newport Beach firefighters assisted in the blaze. No firefighters or civilians were injured in the incident.

The total monetary damage had yet to be determined.

— Joseph Serna