OXNARD : 2 Firefighters Injured in Fire at Empty House
Two Oxnard firefighters suffered minor injuries while putting out a fire in an empty house early Saturday, authorities said.
Capt. Sal Velasquez and firefighter Dan Gildea injured their backs after portions of the floor collapsed, said Battalion Chief Terry McAnally.
Velasquez was treated at the scene and Gildea was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released, McAnally said.
Firefighters were returning to a downtown fire station after responding to a call about a malfunctioning fire alarm, when they smelled smoke shortly before 3:45 a.m., McAnally, said.
The firefighters then drove around the area and spotted a house engulfed in flames in the 400 block of G Street. They called for help and the fire was extinguished within 30 minutes, authorities said.
The blaze, which caused an estimated $30,000 in damage, began near the house’s water heater, McAnally said. The owner and sole resident died several weeks ago, but the utilities were still functioning, McAnally said.
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