An elderly man was overcome by smoke after he was rescued from his burning apartment in North Park, according to San Diego Fire Rescue officials.
Smoke and flames were pouring out of windows and a door when San Diego Fire-Rescue workers pulled up to the two-story apartment complex, at 3762 Arnold Ave., near Landis and Wightman Streets, shortly after 7 a.m.
It took 35 firefighters about 15 minutes to put out the fire, according to San Diego Fire Rescue spokesman Lee Swanson.
The man was in critical condition with burn injuries and taken to the UC San Diego Medical Center's burn unit. A dog, cat and bird were killed in the fire, Swanson said.
Fire damage was contained to one apartment, with some water damage to a first-floor garage and minor smoke damage to another apartment. Residents of five apartment units were displaced by the fire.
Fire investigators had not yet determined the cause of the blaze, but estimated the damage to be $250,000 to the apartment and $100,000 to its contents, according to Swanson.
