$8,000 Damage in Corona : Power Line Sparks Smoldering Fires in Attics of 2 Bungalows
Graciela Ventura heard a strange, buzzing noise outside her house early Monday morning, but didn’t think much of it. She wasn’t bothered by the lights that flickered on and off during the morning rainstorms, either.
A few hours later, though, she went outside and saw wisps of smoke coming from the house, so she ran next door to ask her neighbor, Cecilia Marquez, to call the Fire Department.
That was a good idea for Marquez, because her house was burning, too.
Firefighters discovered a downed power line that “energized both homes,” heating up the bungalows’ metal electrical conduits and slowly charring the rafters, said Corona Fire Capt. Dave Stukey.
The fires left both families--four adults and seven children, in all--temporarily homeless, with a total of $8,000 damage to their rented homes, Stukey said. No injuries or damage to the families’ belongings were reported.
The American Red Cross arranged temporary shelter for the Marquez and Ventura families, said Corona Fire Capt. Bob German.
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