Officials Seek Cause of Fire at Partially Built Irvine Site

Fire investigators were searching Saturday for the cause of a blaze that destroyed four partially constructed buildings in the Northpark housing development in Irvine late Friday night, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

The blaze, which occurred near the intersection of Culver Drive and Irvine Boulevard, caused roughly $1 million in damage when it razed several apartment buildings and a community center under construction. The blaze raged for at least an hour before firefighters brought it under control, according to Capt. Paul Hunter.

The buildings were vacant at the time, and there were no injuries, Hunter said. However, more than 50 residents of three nearby condominium buildings were evacuated when heat and winds threatened to drive the fire their way. The fire did not spread to the occupied buildings, Hunter said.

The development, according to Irvine police and county firefighters, is owned by the Irvine Co. A company representative could not be reached for comment Saturday.