THOUSAND OAKS : Officials Seek Cause of Apartment Fire

Investigators were searching Monday for clues to the cause of a fire that severely damaged a Thousand Oaks apartment building, gutting the bottom-floor apartment and displacing the building’s 12 residents.

Ventura County Fire Department investigator Peter Cronk said the fire in the 200 block of Conejo School Road began in an area of the bottom-floor apartment where several electronic or electrical appliances were plugged in. Five people had been living in the three-room apartment.

“But the cause of the fire is still unknown,” he said. Six engines and 33 firefighters battled the blaze, which began at 10:50 p.m. Saturday.

All 12 residents found temporary shelter, Fire Capt. Norm Stafford said.

Officials estimated damage to the building at $45,000. Damage to furniture and other contents of the building was estimated at $10,000, Fire Department spokeswoman Paula Aliano said.