[symple_googlemap title=”Storage Yard Blaze” location=”14650 Hoover St., Westminster, CA” height=”300″ zoom=”13″]
Fanned by fierce winds, a cigarette butt carelessly discarded in a trash bin started a fire that swept through a large storage yard in Westminster Friday, causing more than $100,000 in damage to containers and equipment.
The fire at Pyramid Logistics‘ storage yard at 14650 Hoover St. was reported about 10:40 a.m., said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi.
“This accidental fire began when someone threw their cigarette butt into one of the trash cans,” Concialdi said. “The trash eventually caught fire and high winds which were really blowing today started to spread the burning embers around the yard.”
The flames eventually destroyed 12 wooden storage containers and damaged a forklift, tractor trailer and two large trailers, Concialdi added.
No injuries were reported.
It took 25 firefighters from Huntington Beach and the OCFA about 30 minutes to knock down the initial fire, but Concialdi said firefighters had to remain on scene for three hours to put out hot spots that kept popping up because of burning embers spread by the winds.
The damage caused by the fire was estimated to be at least $100,000, Concialdi explained. It’s unclear who was responsible for the misplaced cigarette butt, he said.
“The message of this fire is simple and clear,” Concialdi said. “Never throw your lit cigarettes or cigarette butts into trash cans. Dispose of them in an ashtray or a metal container with a closed lid.”
— Staff and Wire Reports