CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Five Retail Spaces Damaged in Newport Coast Fire

A fire caused $100,000 in damage to five retail spaces in the Newport Coast Shopping Center on Monday night, fire officials said today. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it appears to have started in an attic space, and to be electrical in nature.

Firefighters had a waterflow alarm call at 9:50 p.m., said Jennifer Schulz, a Newport Beach Fire Department spokeswoman. When firefighters arrived on scene at 21161 Newport Coast Drive, sprinklers were activated in the business and light smoke was coming from the roof. Firefighters entered the shops and found smoke but no flames, but firefighters on the roof discovered flames and quickly extinguished them, Schulz said.

Five retail spaces had water and smoke damage, she said, adding that the sprinklers significantly helped prevent the fire from spreading. A total of 28 firefighters from Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and the Orange County Fire Authority responded as well as Newport Beach Police units, Schulz said. No injuries were reported.

On Tuesday morning, clean-up crews were at the scene, removing debris and setting up big fans. The damaged businesses include the Bellagio Spa and Pink Laundry, near the Bank of America branch. The space occupied by the now-closed Fiore Flowers also was damaged.

Top photo courtesy of the Newport Beach Fire Department.