Woman burned trying to save pets in Seal Beach garage fire

A woman in her 20s was burned in her unsuccessful effort to save a lizard, two dogs and three exotic birds as they were killed by a garage fire in Seal Beach, a fire captain said Sunday.

The woman suffered moderate burns to her hands, arms and back, said Capt. Steve Concialdi at the Orange County Fire Authority. Paramedics rushed her to an area hospital.

Two other people inside the home at the time of the fire were not injured, Concialdi said.

The fire may have been caused by a light used to heat the reptile in his cage inside an attached garage, he said.

“The occupants said they have been having problems with it. It hasn’t always been working properly,” he said.

Firefighters were dispatched at 10 p.m. Saturday to the residence in the 3800 block of Rose Street andhad the fire out about 20 minutes later, he said.

The fire caused $500,000 of damage to the structure and $200,000 worth of damage to its contents, Concialdi said.

— City News Service