VENTURA : Bungalow Fire Was Caused by a Child
A two-alarm fire that destroyed a small bungalow off Ventura Avenue was sparked by a 4-year-old child playing with a lighter, authorities said Monday.
The blaze displaced two families who were living at 262 W. Ramona St. along with two adults and six children who live in cottages that lost electricity because of the fire. All the families were given vouchers by the Red Cross to stay in motels.
The fire was reported at 6:36 p.m Sunday and spread quickly to the attic of the small, wooden home. When firefighters arrived three minutes later, the rear portion of the building was engulfed in flames.
After learning that a child might be trapped, firefighters searched the burning building, then found the youngster outside. No one was injured.
Authorities estimated the flames and smoke caused $100,000 worth of damage to the house and destroyed $10,000 in personal property.
Battalion Chief Roger Morgenthaler said the flames spread rapidly because of the house’s age and thin walls, which lacked insulation to keep the fire from spreading.
“It’ll probably have to be destroyed because it was pretty well burned,” he said.
Morgenthaler said the fire started in a closet where the child had been flicking a cigarette lighter.
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