Anaheim police and fire officials issued a warning to drivers after firefighters ran a hose through the window of a car that was parked in front of a hydrant as they battled a blaze on Tuesday morning.
Crews were dispatched to the 100 block of North West Street around 6:30 a.m. to battle a fire at a fourplex, according to Anaheim Fire Department Battalion Chief Chris Richichi.
But when they arrived at the scene, they discovered a car parked in front of the hydrant, according to the Anaheim Police Department.
The car, according to Richichi, was extremely close to the curb, making it impossible for firefighters to reach the hydrant without breaking the windows.
Crews broke out the car’s back window and ran the hose line through it.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze within 15 to 20 minutes. No injuries were reported, though eight people were displaced from the building.
The car’s owner, meanwhile. was nowhere to be found, according to Richichi. The vehicle was impounded and also ticketed.
Anaheim Fire and Rescue tweeted out photos of the damaged car, which was parked in front of a red curb, along with a warning to never park in fire lanes.
“Ever wonder what happens when a car is parked in front of a fire hydrant and a fire breaks out? Is a closer parking spot worth the broken windows and the citation and towing fees to @AnaheimPD?” the tweet read.
The Police Department, which also assisted in the fire, retweeted the photos and reminded drivers that red curbs exist for a reason.
KTLA’s Morgan Ball contributed to this story.