VENTURA : Fire in Abandoned Building Investigated

Investigators were trying Tuesday to determine the cause of a fire that caused $30,000 in damage to an abandoned Ventura apartment building scheduled for demolition.

The blaze was reported in the two-unit apartment building at 258 E. Santa Clara Ave. just before midnight Monday, a fire spokeswoman said. One unit was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, but the fire was put out within six minutes, she said.

Transients were known to have illegally inhabited the building, and the cause of the fire is suspicious, said Battalion Chief Wayne Belitski. The downtown building had no electricity or gas, officials said.

No injuries were reported.