Garage fire blows up cans, destroys SUV; none hurt

Authorities continue to investigate what ignited a garage fire in a Costa Mesa home that set off a series of small explosions and left one vehicle destroyed, fire officials said Wednesday.

At 6:17 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters were called to a home in the 3300 block of Wyoming Circle in Costa Mesa. When they arrived, they found the garage completely engulfed in flames with the two residents outside uninjured, Battalion Chief Kevin Diamond said.

The explosions people heard were from aerosol and paint cans blowing up because of the fire, Diamond said.

“There’s always things in a garage that could cause [a fire],” Diamond said.

The home suffered heat and smoke damage, he said. A large SUV that was in the garage during the fire was destroyed, he said. The homeowners, Juan and Cecilia Leyva, had to find lodging for at least one night, officials said.

Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire, but said it looks accidental, Diamond said.

— Joseph Serna