After Condo Fire, Authorities Warn of Ash in Trash

Following a destructive condominium fire Saturday afternoon on Mirador in Mission Viejo, fire authorities are reminding residents to keep hot ash in a metal container.

With two competing theories as to how it began, the cause of the fire on the 21800 block of Mirador is still undetermined, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.

The patio fire may have started after hot ash was placed inside a trash can. Or it may have been a plugged-in utility that started the blaze, Concialdi said.

He reminded residents to keep electrical utilities away from rain, sprinklers and other water sources. And never overload your wall sockets by stacking surge protectors on top of one another, he said.

Hot ash was blamed for another patio fire on Eastbrook earlier this month. Concialdi said to avoid fires, never place anything hot inside a trash can. He said hot ash from fireplaces and ash trays thrown directly into trash cans can cause fires.