Art City Building Goes Up in Flames

The main building at a west-side artists enclave called Art City was destroyed in a fire Wednesday that was punctuated by a series of propane tank explosions.

It took firefighters an hour to control the blaze, which started inside the compound at 197 Dubbers St. shortly before noon, said Ventura Fire Capt. Barry Simmons.

“When we pulled up, it was flames from one end to the other,” Simmons said.

There was nothing firefighters could do to save the building, a rickety wood and metal structure that contained several small art studios and kitchenettes, the captain said. There were no injuries.

Damage to the structure was set at $75,000, and $40,000 in artwork, art supplies, equipment and books was lost, said Fire Investigator Ron Ramirez.

The fire started in a studio where propane from a leaking tank came in contact with a pilot light on a water heater, Ramirez said. Four propane tanks inside the building exploded.

“I smelled propane and two minutes later I saw fire,” said Ventura artist Robert Elder, 31. “I tried to put it out with an extinguisher but it was already out of control. I ran and 30 seconds later it blew.”

Elder, who has been designing furniture, sculpting and painting at Art City for more than a year, said he lost five years’ worth of creations as well as computer equipment and keyboards and guitars.