SAN DIEGO -- The weekend cold snap prompted many San Diegans to turn on their heaters and light their fireplaces for the first time in months, leading to at least two structure fires.
A faulty floor heater apparently sparked a fire in a Pacific Beach duplex early Monday, sending two people to the hospital, a fire department dispatcher said.
The fire at 1811 Hornblend St. broke out about 3:45 a.m., according to a San Diego fire-rescue dispatcher. Paramedics took two people to the hospital, possibly for smoke inhalation, he said.
It took firefighters about 20 minutes to put out the flames.
In the East County community of Harbison Canyon, a family of five was displaced when their single-story home caught fire at about 2 a.m., but no one was hurt, authorities said.
The fire in the 600 block of Silverbrook Drive started in a fireplace and spread through walls and attic space, but most of the home was saved, he said. A damage estimate was pending.
The Red Cross assisted two adults and three children with temporary housing, a Cal Fire dispatcher said.
