$70,000 House Fire Displaces Family

A Simi Valley house fire Tuesday has temporarily displaced five children who were staying at the residence while their parents were in Idaho on business, county fire officials said.

The four girls and one boy, who range in age from 10 to 18, were at school when the fire broke out about 8:45 a.m. at 2305 Burnside St. The blaze was reported by neighbors and contained by firefighters at 9:10 a.m. after causing about $70,000 in damage, officials said. No one was home at the time and there were no injuries, they said.

Authorities in Idaho, notified of the fire, were searching for the parents. Marv Whiting, who neighbors say is a Los Angeles police sergeant, and his wife, Lorna, are inspecting several rental buildings they own throughout the state, said Dawn Moffett, a next-door neighbor. The Whitings were originally due back tonight, she said.

The three younger children will stay with Moffett and the older two will probably stay with other neighbors, Moffett said.

“Our church will make sure all the children are taken care of,” said Moffett, who identified herself and the Whitings as members of the Mormon church.

Fire officials continue to investigate the cause of the blaze.