THOUSAND OAKS : Plumber Was Alone When Fire Began

A plumber who accidentally ignited a fire that caused $12 million in damage to a luxury Thousand Oaks apartment complex was alone in the building at the time and did not have a fire extinguisher nearby, investigators said Tuesday.

Fire investigator Bill Hager said the county’s fire code requires that a fire extinguisher be on hand when a worker is joining pipes by heating.

A worker must also have a fire watch--a person who stands by to make sure fire stays on the pipe, Hager said.

The plumber--who was using a torch to solder a pipe when the fire ignited--told investigators that he was the only person in the building and that he had no fire extinguisher, Hager said.

The plumber ran from the building and retrieved a garden hose to put out the fire, but by then it was too late, Hager said.

The fire began about 3 p.m. Saturday and was contained by 9 p.m. It caused $10 million in damage to structures and $2 million in damage to construction supplies. Twenty-two buildings burned to the ground and four others were damaged, officials said.

Officials at the Ventura headquarters of Interstate Plumbing Inc., the plumber’s employer, declined to comment.

Hager said the department has not made a decision on pressing criminal charges. If filed, the misdemeanor charges would probably be against the plumbing company, he said.