Breaking News

Firefighters quickly extinguished an apartment fire Thursday afternoon at the three-way intersection of Clay Avenue and Delaware and 17th streets in Huntington Beach.

Twenty-five firefighters responded about 12:15 p.m. to the blaze, which began in a two-story vacant unit within a seven-unit apartment building, and extinguished it within about 15 minutes, fire department spokesperson Martha Werth said.

The department estimated the blaze caused $100,000 in damage to the unit, as well as some smoke damage to the apartment immediately to the north, Werth said.

“The fireman had to cut the roof off. They responded quickly because they weren’t sure if there was someone in there,” said resident Richard Villafana, who witnessed the fire.

He was coming home from eating at a nearby restaurant when he saw the blaze and pulled into a church parking lot across the street.

Villefana said he was impressed by the professionalism of both the firefighters and the police officers, who kept the public back while firefighters handled the blaze.

There were no reports of injuries or smoke inhalation. Arson investigators are examining the site of the fire.

Reporter CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.