Man, dog killed in 'suspicious' Seal Beach fire

SEAL BEACH - One man and his dog were killed in a two-alarm blaze that destroyed a duplex in Seal Beach this moing and was determined to be “suspicious in nature,” according to an Orange County Fire Authority spokesman.

The fire inside the two-story, duplex in the 200 block of 17th Street was well-involved when firefighters responded to the scene at 12:15 a.m., according to OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi.

“Firefighters found one man dead in the second floor apartment as they were battling the fire,” Concialdi said. “The man’s dog was found nearby him dead as well.”

The man’s age was not immediately available. His name was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

“There were three other people living in the downstairs apartment but they were able to get out of the duplex safely,” Concialdi continued.

About 60 firefighters from the OCFA and Huntington Beach battled the blaze, Concialdi said. A knockdown was declared at 1:35 a.m., more than an hour after the fire was first reported.

Seal Beach police evacuated nearby houses because of the amount of flames and smoke coming from the home, he added.

No other injuries were reported.

“Our fire investigators have determined the fire was suspicious in nature,” Concialdi said early this moing. “The inspectors and Seal Beach police remain at the scene and are examining the building.”

The fire did an estimated $50,000 damage to the duplex’s structure and about $20,000 damage to its contents, Concialdi added.