Firefighters Contain Blaze in House Attic

Manhattan Beach firefighters have put out two structure fires in less than two weeks.

The latest blaze began sometime before 5 a.m. in a vacant residence at 730 Rosecrans Ave. No one was injured and the fire, which was contained in the attic, apparently resulted from a “zero clearance” attic-installed forced-air furnace. 

Fire damage was limited to the attic, however, the rest of the home has suppression, smoke and water damage.

A next door neighbor made the call this morning after smelling smoke, said Fire Battalion Chief Frank Chiella, who told Patch that the fire began after visitors to the home turned the thermostat to 80 degrees and didn't turn it off.

Tenants moved out of the home last weekend, he said, and potential renters have been viewing the property.

Chiella recommended that anyone with  with a "gas-fired, forced-air heater in the attic" have it checked and inspected for safety. He told Patch that the units should have a proper surface between them and the wood beams they frequently sit on.

He said that Manhattan Beach had several fires due to that type of attic-installed heater in the mid to late 1990s.

Firefighters cut a hole in the roof and in the interior ceilings to fight the fire.

Chiella estimated the damage to be $60,000. The home's roof was "severely damaged" as were attic supports.

Charles Bentley of MSB Inc., a disaster recovery service and general contractor, told Patch that it would take three to six months to repair the home.