A San Diego police officer driving by, saw smoke coming from an apartment at 12700 Rancho Peñasquitos Boulevard, early Sunday morning.
The officer stopped and was able to help evacuate people living in the complex above a shopping center.
Ruben Pena lives next door to the unit on fire. He had just stepped out into the neighborhood to walk his dog.
“I saw smoke. I thought it was coming from the canyon across the street. It was not,” Pena said. Flames and smoke started in his neighbor’s apartment. The neighbor, who did not want to be identified, lived in the unit with his two dogs. Police confirmed he is a military veteran. Because of a smoke alarm that went off in the apartment, they all got out of the burning building without being hurt.
“The real story is that the smoke detector did alert the occupant and that’s what woke him up from (being) asleep,” said Battalion Chief Chris Babler with the San Diego Fire Department.
Firefighters were able to put out the fire quickly without damage to any other units on the property or to the businesses below. It has been ruled accidental and was apparently started by faulty computer wiring.
This is the time to do that battery safety check, and this fire is a great example that smoke detectors do save lives.
Battalion Chief Chris Babler, San Diego Fire Department
An investigator said there were fully charged batteries in the smoke alarm.
Every year, the fire department reminds people to check alarm batteries in their home during the annual “fall back” time change which happens next on November 2.
Chief Babler said, “This is the time to do that battery safety check, and this fire is a great example that smoke detectors do save lives.”
Whether you’re a homeowner or renting a place, state and local laws require the use of smoke alarms.
M.G. Perez
M.G. Perez
Ruben Pena was walking his pet chihuahua, Sunday morning, when he saw smoke coming from his neighbor’s apartment, Rancho Peñasquitos, Calif., September 21, 2025.
There are also state requirements for carbon monoxide detectors as explained by the Southern California Rental Housing Association.
Ruben Pena said he hopes his next walk with his dog is less eventful.
“I’m just glad and happy that nobody was hurt, no dogs got hurt and (my neighbor) didn’t get hurt. Materialistic things can be replaced,” he said.