Fire Damages 60-Plus Units at Lake Forest Facility

A fire at Trabuco Self-Storage & RV Center in Lake Forest, Calif., destroyed 15 units and caused heat, smoke or water damage to 60 others on Monday. It required more than 70 firefighters and three hours to squelch.

The blaze broke out at approximately 4:20 a.m. on the lower of the building’s two floors, which contain approximately 1,000 units. Though speculated, the exact cause is not known. "I'm getting two different stories about how the fire started," said Roxanne Le Sene, district manager for Pouch Self Storage, which operates the site. "One said it started upstairs, another one said he can't confirm it was electrical."

Structural damage was estimated at $1.5 million and damage to contents at $500,000, according to Capt. Stephen Miller of the Orange County Fire Authority. Fire inspectors and insurance adjusters spent Monday conducting investigations, while firefighters assisted tenants with extrication of their belongings.