11 evacuated, 1 injured in La Jolla apartment fire

An overloaded extension cord sparked a Bird Rock-area condominium fire Friday that injured a senior citizen and left her and 10 other residents, including two children, temporarily homeless.

The blaze in the 5300 block of La Jolla Boulevard erupted about 9:45 a.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

Medics took a 72-year-old woman to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla for treatment of smoke inhalation and several residents of a multi-unit apartment complex at 6357 La Jolla Blvd. had to be evacuated due to the blaze.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Spokesman Maurice Luque said there was extensive fire damage to the unidentified woman’s unit, adding there was smoke damage to the unit above hers and water damage to the unit below.

The complex involved has six apartment units per building separated by a common enclosed hallway.

“Three apartments on the other side had minor smoke damage,” said Luque, adding 11 residents in all were evacuated from the apartment complex including two children and two dogs. Bird Rock Elementary School also was evacuated for a short time, although it was never in danger. The decision was made due to extensive smoke in the area.

He said it was a first-alarm fire responded to by four fire engines and two fire trucks.

“A total of about 35 personnel were down here and it took about 25 minutes to knock the fire down,” he said.

Investigators are still investigating the cause of the blaze and have yet to offer an estimate on damages.

The American Red Cross was called in to help the displaced residents arrange for interim lodging, Swanson said.

Investigators set the total monetary losses at roughly $650,000.

— City News Service contributed to this report.