Five residents were displaced Saturday morning after a fire broke out at a building in City Heights that houses several businesses and an apartment, fire officials said.
The blaze sparked around 5:50 a.m. at an L-shaped building in the 4200 block of El Cajon Boulevard near Copeland Avenue. The building contains several businesses and the rear unit on the Copeland Avenue side has been converted into an apartment, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) said.
When firefighters arrived, they could see flames shooting from the windows and roof of the apartment. With an aggressive attack, 30 fire personnel were able to knock out the fire within 20 minutes, officials said.
Lee Swanson of the SDFD said firefighters were able to confine the blaze to the apartment, which sustained heavy damage. Officials said the Red Cross is helping the five adults who live there find temporary housing.
No one was injured in the blaze.
Swanson said surrounding businesses suffered some smoke damage. For now, damage is estimated at $500,000 to the building and $100,000 to the contents.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and the incident is under investigation.
