Fast-Moving Blaze Guts Family Home

A quick-burning fire gutted the back section of a family home in downtown Oxnard on Friday morning.

The family who lives at the residence was not at home, and no one was injured in the blaze that started just before 10 a.m. and burned the back apartment of a duplex at 453 S. E St. Fire investigator Jim Powell said the fire was caused by a malfunctioning water heater.

About 25 firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the kitchen, back porch and attic of the home, said Bill Scobey, a spokesman for the Oxnard Fire Department.

Neighbors noticed smoke at the residence and heard a window blow out of the back of the house, said Jim Perkins, a 39-year-old cook who works at a home next to the residence.

With a fire extinguisher in hand, Perkins ran next door to try and douse the flames.

“The windows had blown out and there was a lot of black smoke,” he said. “I pushed through the back door but there was way too much smoke and fire.”

By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had already reached into the attic, said Fire Capt. George Todd.

“But we got in there and vented it and knocked it down pretty fast,” Todd said.

Jose Morales, who lives in the home with his wife and daughter, arrived after the firefighters had already doused the flames. The Red Cross will provide shelter for the family, officials said.