Fire Damages 8-Unit Apartment Complex

Nine people were left homeless after a fire in an apartment complex early Monday destroyed two units and damaged six others.

The Ventura County Fire Department responded to the blaze at 2:14 a.m. at the eight-unit Los Robles Apartments in the 300 block of Rolling Oaks Drive. Damage was estimated at $315,000, but no one was hurt, officials said.

Tyler Rebbe, 25, and his girlfriend, Dawn Trainer, jumped from the balcony of their second-story apartment after fire blocked the stairway.

The fire started in the living room of Rebbe’s neighbor, said Joe Luna, a spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department.

“The residents were asleep when it happened,” Luna said. “The young couple said the brightness of the fire woke them up. They realized there was a fire in their living room and called 911. They quickly exited the building and went door-to-door alerting neighbors.”

The cause of the fire is still unknown but has been ruled an accident, Luna said.

Most of the complex’s occupants were home and were quickly evacuated.

The top two inside units were destroyed. The other six sustained smoke and water damage. The fire most likely spread through the attic from one apartment to another, Luna said.

Although the apartments had a smoke detector, it didn’t alert the residents, Luna said.

“We’re looking into why it didn’t sound for them,” Luna said, noting the reason could range from no batteries to faulty wiring.

The Ventura County chapter of the American Red Cross is providing temporary shelter, food and clothing for the residents. The residents are living in motels, or staying with family or friends.