OCFA FIRE investigator on the scene of an apartment fire Wednesday morning in Garden Grove (OCFA photo).

A fire that broke out Wednesday morning at an apartment complex in Garden Grove was knocked down quickly by firefighters.

According to the Orange County Fire Authority – which provides fire and paramedic services to Garden Grove – the fire was reported at 9:15 a.m. in the 10000 block of Tibbs Circle. That’s located south of Katella Avenue between Brookhurst Street and Euclid Avenue.

A mother and her daughter were able to escape without injury and the blaze was kept from spreading to other units in the complex.

Child molest suspect arrested

Santa Ana police have arrested a suspected child molester who serves as a school bus driver in Upland and Santa Ana.

According to the SAPD, Nery Rodriguez, a resident of Upland, was taken into custody on Dec. 31. He is accused of sexually molesting two juvenile victims when they were “about eight years old” and living in Santa Ana. The abuse allegedly continued fir several years and was not reported at the time.

The suspect was arrested in the 700 block of South Lyon Street in Santa Ana. He was booked into Orange County Jail with bail set at $1 million.

Police say there is no evidence that Rodriguez sexually assaulted any student passengers in his duties as a bus driver.

There could be additional victims. Anyone with information about possible victims is asked to call Detective Nick Vega at (714) 245-8368.

HB council’s areas of focus

At a special session of the Huntington Beach City Council on Tuesday, a strategic planning workshop was held in the Central Library on Talbert Avenue.

After some discussion, the council reached a consensus on key areas of focus going forward for the city and the council. They are:

• Fiscal stability
• Community engagement
• Homelessness
• Economic development and housing
• Infrastructure (including parks)
• COVID-19.

The next regular session of the council is set for Tuesday, Jan. 19.