They saluted as the procession passed below, many accompanied by spectators. Two motorcycle officers led the way.įire engines and firefighters were staged on overpasses along the freeway as the procession traveled north. A news broadcast of the procession showed family members waiting outside the hospital as police officers and firefighters lined up and saluted alongside.Ĭosta Mesa fire engines followed the white minivan carrying Kreza’s body along with several other vehicles. The firefighter’s body was transported in a procession from Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo to the coroner’s office in Santa Ana. Scarpa, of Mission Viejo was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Multiple prescription medications reportedly were found inside the van. The driver, Stephen Taylor Scarpa, 25, was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance, the Sheriff’s Department said. Kreza, who was training for an Ironman triathlon, suffered apparent trauma to the head and body and was rushed to a hospital. Firefighters with the OCFA, Newport and Santa Ana Fire Departments are searching for damage or other fires that may have been ignited in the building.Sheriff’s deputies found Kreza unresponsive on eastbound Alicia Parkway near Via Burgos at about 8 a.m. The underground structure is used for deliveries and no cars were parked there.Īs of 10:45 a.m., the 12-story building is still evacuated. The fire was contained to the electrical vault and the building was evacuated as a precaution, officials said. The fire in the electrical vault, located in a structure underneath the buildings, was discovered and contained by firefighters at the scene, Capt. “So we’re waiting around to see what happens.” “We haven’t gotten the all-clear to go home yet,” Pechar said. By 7:40, the building was evacuated, and he and colleague Michael Losey decided to go have breakfast to kill some time. “I’ve been outside ever since, I’m hoping to get inside to at least pick up some files so I can get some work done at home.”īalboa Capital employee Michael Pechar was in the 2010 building at 7:20 when the power first went out.

“I was trying to enter the parking structure when the fire engines pulled up and blocked it,” said attorney Jeff Shields, whose law office is on the 10th floor of the 1920 building. While employees will be allowed to reenter the buildings, the power will remain out while investigators determine the cause of the fire and Southern California Edison makes repairs– causing lost work hours and frustration for the hundreds of workers affected. The evacuation is expected to remain in effect until 11:30 a.m., he said. “Most of the smoke is gone, they’re just trying to bring down CO levels,” Concepcion said.

The electrical vault fire was extinguished shortly after 10 a.m., but employees of the business building and the adjoining 2010 building have remained outside because of smoke caused by the fire, said Battalion Chief Kris Concepcion of the OCFA.

Mike Blawn of the Orange County Fire Authority. because of a smoke alarm in an underground structure, said Capt. IRVINE – Firefighters evacuated two 12-story high-rise buildings because of an underground electrical fire, authorities said.įirefighters responded to 1920 Main Street before 8:30 a.m.

Orange county electrical fire caption