Fire Forces Closure of Department Store in Ventura

Faulty wiring triggered a fire early Friday at Macy’s department store in the Buenaventura Mall, causing extensive damage and forcing the store to close temporarily.

Four Ventura Fire Department engines arrived at the midtown department store after the blaze triggered a fire alarm shortly before 4 a.m.

Fire damage was limited because heat from the flames activated the automatic fire sprinklers, but there was extensive damage to floor inventory because of water cascading from floor to floor, Battalion Chief Kevin Rennie said.

Structural loss was estimated at $100,000 and content loss at $500,000.

“The sprinklers worked the way they’re designed to work,” Rennie said. “Although it seems like a lot of water damage, there would have been much more fire damage had there not been sprinklers.”

There was no one in the store at the time of the fire, but employees began to drift in for their early morning shift while fire crews were still on the scene.

Although Macy’s store representatives had expected the store to be open by Friday afternoon, the store remained closed due to power problems.