Fire at Pasadena House Sparked by Resident Using Propane Heater to Kill Bed Bugs, Officials Say

[UPDATED] Four people were displaced after a fire broke out at a Pasadena home when a resident brought an outdoor propane heater inside in an attempt to kill bed bugs late Sunday, authorities said.

The fire ignited just before 9:40 p.m. in the 2600 block of Vista Laguna Terrace, near the Altadena border, according to Pasadena police and fire officials.

A resident “was attempting to kill bed bugs with an outdoor propane heater, which he brought inside the house,” police Lt. Pete Hettema said.

The fire was well established when firefighters arrived, with visible smoke and flames emanating from the front of the home, city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said. Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters were the first to respond, before it was determined the location was within Pasadena’s city limits.

All four adult residents had managed to get out of the burning home before firefighters arrived, she said.

The Red Cross was summoned to help them find temporary lodging, Derderian said.

The fire caused an estimated $250,000 worth of damage to the single-story home and about $150,000 in damage to contents, she said.

Firefighters remained on the scene for several hours trying to salvage what belongings they could, she added.