Mother, 2 Daughters Homeless After Fire in Oxnard

At least three people were left homeless Monday after a fire at an Oxnard condominium complex gutted one unit and damaged three others, fire officials said.

Red Cross officials helped Nellie Contreras and her two daughters find food, clothing and shelter for the night after flames destroyed their home at 2700 El Dorado Ave., said Battalion Chief Terry McAnally.

McAnally was unsure whether residents in other burned units required assistance, and Red Cross officials were unavailable for comment late Monday.

The blaze was reported at 11:37 a.m. and took the city’s entire force of 23 firefighters an hour to extinguish, McAnally said. Efforts to put out the fire were hindered by strong Santa Ana winds and wood-shingle roofs on the units, he said.

“It was a bad time for a fire, but luckily nobody got hurt,” McAnally said.

The fire apparently was started by a malfunctioning heater in Contreras’ unit, he said. It quickly burned through to the ceiling and spread through corridors and attics to other units, McAnally said.

Damage to the building and property was estimated at $260,000.