Donations being accepted for Poinsettia Fire victims

CARLSBAD (CNS) – Donations were being accepted Monday by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce for people who lost homes or businesses in the Poinsettia Fire.

The 600-acre fire, which was fully contained late Saturday afternoon, caused $10 to $15 million in damage since it broke out for unknown reasons around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday near Poinsettia Lake and Alicante Road, according to the city of Carlsbad.

Neighborhoods along Aviara Parkway and Black Rail Road sustained most of the damage, Cal Fire reported.

In all, eight single-family homes, two multi-family apartment buildings, two commercial buildings and one trailer were destroyed or significantly damaged, and three single-family homes sustained minor damage, city officials said.

Donations for those affect were being accepted by the chamber via www.carlsbad.org under the tab, “Fire Recovery Efforts.”

No confirmed injuries were immediately reported as a result of the Poinsettia Fire but authorities said they were looking into whether the fire killed a transient.

Crews checking for hot spots in a location known to have been used as a transient encampment in the vicinity of Ambrosia Lane and Calliandra Road discovered a badly burned body Thursday afternoon, city officials said. The victim’s name and cause of death were remained under investigation today.