EL TORO : Board on Burner Gets Blame for Fire

A cutting board left atop a stove burner was blamed for sparking a major fire in an El Toro condominium complex early Sunday, authorities said.

The blaze caused an estimated $80,000 damage to one condominium in a sprawling complex located in the 25600 block of Le Parc, Orange County Fire Capt. Dan Young said.

Neighbors called for emergency help at 6:52 a.m. Sunday after they discovered flames pouring out the window of a nearby condominium.

“They heard what sounded like a couple of cats fighting and when they went to investigate, they discovered flames coming out one of the windows,” Young said.

Nearly 30 firefighters were rushed to the sprawling, two-story complex. The blaze was put out quickly, and damage was held to the upstairs unit where the fire began, with only minor water damage to adjacent condominiums, Young said.

Firefighters estimated the loss at $60,000 to the structure and $20,000 to its contents.

Both owners of the unit, Michael Pixley and Linda Voll, were out of town at the time of the blaze, Young said.

Fire investigators traced the source of the flames to a wooden cutting board left on top of a stove burner in the condominium, Young said.

No injuries were reported in the blaze.