Officials investigating fire that killed two

Authorities are investigating the cause of an apartment fire that killed two men and left up to four units uninhabitable in Huntington Beach on Sunday morning.

At about 1:30 a.m., firefighters responded to a blaze at Ocean Breeze Villas, a 288-unit complex at 6401 Warner Ave. The fire may have been caused by a barbecue on the balcony of one of the units, Deputy Fire Marshall Jeff Lopez said.

The bodies of two men, identified as Travis McCarthy, 25, and Matthew Danihels, 29, both of Huntington Beach, were found inside the unit containing the barbecue. Lopez said it was unclear if both men lived in the unit. An autopsy report on both men was completed Sunday and is expected to be released today, he said.

The scene was investigated by the Huntington Beach Fire and Police departments as well as the Orange County Fire Authority and the Los Angeles Fire Department, which sent a fire dog to sniff for accelerants. Officials are awaiting testing results from materials removed from the scene.

“There’s no indication to suspect arson, but they haven’t ruled it out,” Lopez said.

— Michael Miller