Scattered fires char 5 acres at Talbert Park

SUE DOYLE

COSTA MESA -- Firefighters had a busy morning Thursday, battling two

fires in a matter of hours -- one that blackened nearly five acres of

Talbert Regional Park and another inside a pool chemical storage facility

on Placentia Avenue.

Authorities still do not know what caused a number of scattered fires

at Talbert Park, which were believed to have started around 3:30 a.m.

Flames were not limited to a single area, but danced around a number of

spots in the southeast portion of the county-owned park at West 19th

Street and Balboa Boulevard.

Firefighters formed a perimeter around the fires and hosed down hot

spots, which should smolder out within a day, depending on wind

conditions, said Barbara Marcosa, spokeswoman for the Costa Mesa Police

Department.

The area, loaded with bamboo and knotted trees, sits isolated from

busy streets and is a common area where people take hikes and walk their

dogs. It’s also been the site of a homeless encampment in the past.

One resident of nearby Marina Highlands, John Pennino, woke up at 4

a.m. From his view on the bluffs above, he saw the flames spreading

quickly.

“It was pretty big. I could see it from my bed,” he said.

Pennino added that his view is now nothing but a bunch of charred

trees. Ashes covered his driveway.

Just a few blocks away, another fire started around 8:30 a.m. inside

Aquatic Balance Pool Service at 2035 Placentia Ave. The business is one

of a few occupying the facility and sits behind other stores.

Costa Mesa’s hazardous materials team responded to the blaze,

concerned that as much as 100 gallons of pool chemicals might run off

into storm drains. Authorities were able to contain the chemicals inside

the building before they could spread, Marcosa said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. Estimated damage to the

facility was not available, but would be calculated during the

investigation, Marcosa said.

No persons were inside the business at the time, but employees working

in adjacent shops smelled the smoke and came outside to investigate.

Romeo Valdez of Newport Maritime Corp. was working when he heard a

loud pop from next door. Smoke spread into his work area, so Valdez and

his co-workers fled the area.

“We started smelling fumes,” Valdez said. “We ran out when it started

getting heavier. There was more smoke than anything.”

There were no reported injuries at either fire.