SAN DIEGO - A fire of unknown origin damaged three units in an El Cerrito-area apartment building Wednesday morning, causing an estimated $260,000 in damages and leaving seven people in need of interim housing.
The non-injury blaze erupted in a ground-floor apartment in the 5700 block of Andros Place shortly before 7:30 a.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
Crews had the flames extinguished within 20 minutes, SDFRD spokesman Lee Swanson said. Though the personnel were able to contain the blaze to the unit in which it broke out, the pair of residences above it sustained smoke damage, he said.
The American Red Cross was called in to help the displaced residents -- five adults and two children -- arrange for temporary lodging.
Investigators set the damages at $200,000 to the two-story structure and $60,000 to contents. The cause of the blaze remained undetermined as of midday, Swanson said.
