Faulty Power Outlet Sparks Electrical Fire Inside Cerritos Home

A woman and her three young children fled from their Cerritos residence late Tuesday afternoon as thick black smoke quickly filled the back of their home as a result of an electrical fire.

The fire at 19305 Sheryl Ave. was reported about 5:35 p.m. on Sept. 27 and was immediately doused by arriving Los Angeles County firefighters from .

Cynthia Dominguez said she was resting inside the home with her three children when her 12-year-old daughter noticed something awry.

"I saw that the whole back room was pitch black," said Dominguez's daughter Arianna, who quickly alerted her mom of the smoke.

Dominguez said she then grabbed her two sons, her daughter and the family's small dog and ran out of the home before calling 911.

Firefighters were able to contain the flames to the rear of the home. The fire was apparently sparked by a faulty electrical outlet that was powering an air conditioning unit in the family's game room, according to firefighters and deputies at the scene.

The home sustained roughly $5,000 in damage, but no one was hurt.