Local News in Brief : Thousand Oaks Family Escapes Burning Home

A Thousand Oaks family of six escaped injury in a house fire early Monday even though the home’s smoke detectors did not go off until after the family had left the house, Ventura County fire officials said.

Sparks from the remnants of a fire in the fireplace ignited the roof of a one-story wood frame home at 191 Kevin St., at 1:30 a.m., said Alison Schember, a county fire dispatcher. The smell of smoke awakened the family of two adults and four children, who were outside by the time firefighters arrived, Schember said.

Fire officials believe the smoke detectors did not go off immediately because they were poorly placed inside the home, said county firefighter Michael Estrada.

The fire caused $60,000 in damage, Schember said. One firefighter, Ted Smith, was treated for a sprained ankle at Las Robles Regional Medical Center and released, she said.