Damage Estimated at $100K in Catalina Avenue Fire

A space heater started a fire in an apartment in the 1300 block of Catalina Avenue in South Redondo Beach on Monday night, displacing at least one person and causing $100,000 worth of damage, officials said.

No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported; however, an occupant's pet died in the blaze, according to Division Chief Rob Rappaport of the Redondo Beach Fire Department.

Authorities were called to the scene at about 11 p.m., Redondo Beach Police Department spokesman Sgt. Shawn Freeman said. Police officers helped evacuate the building.

Thirty-three firefighters—including some from the Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Torrance fire departments—fought the two-alarm blaze, which was contained to the unit of origin, Rappaport said.

The fire's cause was a space heater placed too close to combustible materials, such as papers, Rappaport said.

"The fire department recommends (people) only use heating appliances when you are home," he said. "Also, keep them away from any combustible items."

Though this is the first fire caused by a space heater this season in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles Fire Department crews over the weekend doused two other blazes related to space heaters.