Fire Erupts at Offices Used as Homes in Santa Paula

A two-story office building that erupted into flames Tuesday morning was being used illegally as an apartment house, Santa Paula city and fire officials said.

One of the building’s inhabitants, Maria Garcia, 24, was rescued from the burning structure after flames trapped her in one of the rooms with no emergency exit, Santa Paula Fire Marshall Bob Hall said.

Garcia was taken to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital where she was treated for smoke inhalation and released. Three other men believed to be living in the building were not home when the fire broke out.

It took 10 minutes to extinguish the blaze that began about 8:36 a.m. on the bottom floor of the building at 119 S. 10th St., across the street from the Santa Paula Fire Department, Hall said.

Officials suspect that the blaze was caused by a toaster oven in one of the offices. The fire was fueled by carpet and clothes in the room, causing about $65,000 of damage to the structure and its contents.

Owners of the building were listed as William F. and Mary C. Williams of Ventura, according to city building records. Records also show that the building was recently inspected and found to be in violation of city building codes, said Stephen Stuart, city building and safety director.

Officials were unaware that the building was being used as a dwelling until after the fire broke out, Stuart said. He said the owners could be cited for renting out the building illegally.

The building was originally a house converted into a commercial building with offices added onto the front, officials said.