Fireplace Embers Set Roof on Fire
A faulty fireplace and a shake roof are being blamed for a fire Saturday that forced five people from their house in Simi Valley, authorities said.
The two-story house in the 1100 block of El Monte Drive caught fire at 11:52 a.m. and was put out by Ventura County Fire Department crews about half an hour later, according to Fire Department spokesman Charles Carranza.
Carranza said the fireplace was in use, but because it was not equipped with a spark arrester, sparks and embers escaped. They came back down onto the wooden shingles, igniting them, he said.
Five people were evacuated from the house, but no one was injured.
Damage is estimated at $125,000 to the structure and $5,000 to the contents, Carranza said.
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