OJAI : Fire Leaves Woman and Son Homeless
An Ojai woman and her son were without a home Thursday after flames swept through the wooden house they rented, destroying it along with a vehicle parked nearby, authorities said.
The fire at 508 Fox St. broke out about 10:10 p.m. Wednesday and took firefighters from five engine companies about an hour to extinguish. Ventura County Fire Capt. Bruce Mandell said the house, adjacent to the Ojai Valley Racquet Club, was engulfed in flames when the first firefighters arrived.
Investigators estimated the loss of the structure and contents was $172,000, and $7,000 for the vehicle. The home had been rented by Vicki Southworth and her son, Mandell said.
Authorities said the blaze began when power to the home went out and Southworth’s son struck a match, but accidentally ignited the entire box of matches. The flaming box then fell against a couch that caught fire.
“It wasn’t like children playing with matches; it was truly an accident,” Mandell said.
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