Local News in Brief : 2 Teen-Agers Sought in 60-Acre Brush Fire

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Friday was looking for two teen-age boys whose toy rocket is suspected of touching off a 60-acre brush fire in Thousand Oaks.

The fire, which began in an empty lot near Potrero Road and Westlake Boulevard in the Westlake section of the city, was ignited around 1:45 p.m. Thursday, the Ventura County Fire Department said. Arson investigators found a 14-inch rocket and a solid-fuel rocket motor in the lot.

Detective Edward Wyand said witnesses saw the two boys setting off the rockets in the yard of a nearby elementary school but that the boys had not been found as of late Friday.

“We know who they are and we’re looking for them,” Detective Dave Ehrlich said.

Dick Broughton, the Fire Department’s fiscal manager, said that if those responsible for the fire are successfully prosecuted, his agency will probably seek reimbursement for firefighting costs. He said he did not know how much was spent to extinguish the fire.

The fire spread south toward Decker Canyon before it was contained at 4 p.m. by 15 fire units from Ventura and Los Angeles counties. No injuries or property damage were reported.