Five cars damaged in blaze

Five cars were damaged in a fire on Thursday afternoon as a single-car fire quickly spread to nearby cars in Costa Mesa, acting Battalion Chief Chris Coates said Friday.

Dispatchers received a phone call at 5:56 p.m. about a fire at 1955 Pomona Ave. and were on the scene within three minutes because the fire station is two blocks away, Coates said.

There were 23 firefighters on scene, and no injuries were reported. Damages were estimated at $100,000, and an investigation into the cause of the fire continues.

Shortly before that blaze, another fire was reported at the nearby Smart and Final, 707 W. 19th St., temporarily closing the store. No one was injured.

—Lauren Williams