The Loop

California golf resort sued over damages incurred during May fire

October 15, 2014

The Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., has been sued by a group of property owners whose homes or businesses were damaged in the devastating Poinsettia fire in May, notwithstanding the fact that fire officials have been unable to determine how it started.

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(Getty Images photo)

Officials believe the fire started on or near the seventh fairway of La Costa's Champions Course, which runs adjacent to Poinsettia Lane, U-T San Diego reported.

"All leads have been followed up and the cause remains undetermined," Carlsbad Chief Mike Davis told the paper. "We're at a standstill in our investigation … We just can't find anything that pinpoints a cause."

U-T San Diego previously reported that Dominic Fieri, an investigator with the Carlsbad Fire Department, said "the blaze may have been started either by a burning cigarette or cigar…or a spark created by a titanium golf club head' hitting a rock."

Five homes, 18 apartment and a commercial building were destroyed in the fire, the Carlsbad Fire Department has reported. Four other homes sustained major damage and an additional 22 residences sustained minor damage.

The fire burned near Aviara Golf Club, too, though the course sustained no damage.

The headquarters of Callaway Golf, TaylorMade Golf, Cobra-Puma Golf and Titleist were all evacuated during the fire.

La Costa has hosted the Tournament of Champions, the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, and the LPGA's Kia Classic.