OXNARD : 2 Flee Fire; Boy Was Playing With Matches

A 3-year-old boy playing with matches sparked a fire Tuesday morning that quickly destroyed much of his family’s stucco home near Oxnard Shores, fire officials said.

The boy, Steven Jenkins, and his grandmother, Olga Ortega, escaped from the blaze unharmed as neighbors and passersby used garden hoses on the flaming duplex in the 800 block of Dunes Street.

But by the time the first firefighters arrived minutes later, the fire had engulfed much of the upper floor and flames could be seen leaping through ventilation openings in the roof.

Firefighters stopped the flames from spreading to the other half of the duplex by training hoses on the common attic and walls, Battalion Chief Terry McAnally said.

Investigators estimated the fire caused $100,000 in damage to the two-story structure and property inside.

McAnally said Steven told an investigator he had been striking matches in a closet when the flames ignited clothing, paper and other nearby objects.

“They were lucky to get out of there,” McAnally said. “That’s why you have to keep an eye on 2- and 3-year-olds all the time.”

Steven’s mother, Jenny Ortega, 23, arrived at the home as firefighters were beginning to mop up after the blaze. She said she had rented the duplex with her boyfriend just a few months ago.

“He started making more money and so we decided to move up to the beach,” she said tearfully.

Ortega’s neighbor in the other half of the duplex, Jim Johnson, 53, was home when the fire started, but didn’t notice the flames until two electricians driving by stopped to knock on his door.

“I looked out and there was smoke everywhere,” Johnson said.

Although flames did not spread to his portion of the duplex, Johnson said thick black smoke had spread to his half of the building and firefighters had cut a hole through his roof to allow the heat to escape.

“It’s going to be a very smoky Christmas,” he said.