San Gabriel Valley Tribune

WEST COVINA - A large fire badly damaged two townhomes and sent a firefighter to the hospital Tuesday, authorities said.

The firefighter was hospitalized after becoming weak and dizzy while battling the blaze and remained hospitalized for observation Wednesday, West Covina Fire Department Assistant Chief Bart Brewer said.

The fire was reported shortly after 11 a.m. in the 3600 block of South Sequoia Circle, Brewer said.

Firefighters found the building well-involved with fire wen they arrived and worked to keep the blaze from spreading, Brewer said.

"It got quite a head start on us," he said.

Every available West Covina firefighter was called to help, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department sent firefighters to help as well, Brewer said.

More than 30 firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, he said.

"It took about an hour to really get it under control," he added.

Two townhomes were burned in the fire, Brewer said, and a third suffered smoke damage.

Residents were home at the time of the fire, but none were injured, West Covina Fire Department Capt. Jim Rudroff said.

The fire caused an estimated $300,000 in damage, he said.

The cause of the blaze remained under investigation Wednesday.

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april 21, 2010