Firebox blamed for fire at Costa Mesa home

Costa Mesa firefighters extinguished a small chimney fire that caused minor damage to a home Wednesday, officials said.

Fire personnel responded to the 1300 block of Garlingford Street at about 10 a.m. after the resident of the single-story house noticed smoke coming from the fireplace, Battalion Chief Tim Vasin said.

Officials determined that the fire was caused by an improperly installed firebox being used to warm the house.

“If people are burning fires in those fireboxes and it gets too hot, they can conduct heat through the metal and can catch the 2-by-4s behind it on fire,” Vasin said.

Nobody was injured, officials said.

— Anthony Clark Carpio

Twitter: @acocarpio