Closet fire breaks out in bookstore Barnes...

Closet fire breaks out in bookstore

Barnes and Noble Booksellers in South Coast Metro suffered $20,000

worth of damage after a fire broke out in one of its closets Sunday

morning, Costa Mesa Fire officials said.

The fire was “small” and was put out by the sprinklers even before

firefighters arrived at about 10:55 a.m., officials said. No one was

injured. There was minor fire damage in the closet.

Officials said water was also found on the floor and outside the

closet with water leaking down into Mikasa, which is directly below.

Firefighters then began salvage operations to prevent further water

damage to these businesses.

Costa Mesa arson investigators determined the cause of the fire

was brooms being placed close to a water heater. The heat from the

water heater ignited the brooms, officials said. About 28

firefighters responded to the incident.

-- Deepa Bharath