Christmas Apartment Fire Displaces Carlsbad Family

Four people escaped an overnight fire that gutted their apartment in Carlsbad.

A call came in 2:25 a.m. Wednesday about a fire in a four-unit apartment building at 4653 Park Drive, Carlsbad Fire Department Capt. Steve Hardy said.

"Black smoke was blowing out of the apartment, and flames were coming through the roof," Hardy said. "The initial report was that people were trapped, but they had gotten out by the time firefighters arrived."

Hardy said eight fire engines, two ladder trucks, two ambulances and two battalion chiefs were dispatched to the two-alarm blaze.

The fire also threatened an adjacent structure under construction, Hardy said.

The blaze was completely extinguished by 3:15 a.m. Firefighters remained on scene doing mop up until 5:20 a.m.

There was no estimate of damages.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

— City News Service