El Rio Family of 9 Loses Home in Blaze
A family of nine, including seven children, were left homeless Monday night when their house burned down, authorities said.
The blaze, the fourth major structure fire in Ventura County in three days, erupted about 4:40 p.m. at the home of Dario and Maria Gonzales in the 4800 block of Perry Way, according to neighbors and the Ventura County Fire Department.
Two dozen firefighters took about 30 minutes to extinguish the fire, which apparently started in a bedroom, neighbors said. A cause had not been determined, but authorities said the 1,500-square-foot home, worth about $100,000, was destroyed.
The American Red Cross was called out to help the Gonzales family with clothing and food. The family planned to stay with a daughter who lives in Oxnard, said Ramona Sabedra, a neighbor and family friend.
At the time of the fire, Maria Gonzales was home with several children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Sabedra said. Some of the children ran to Sabedra’s house to call the Fire Department.
Dario Gonzales, who works in the produce packing business, was out of town Monday. His wife was trying to reach him, Sabedra said.
The family has lived in the home for more than 20 years, Sabedra said.
Since Saturday, apartment buildings in Thousand Oaks and Santa Paula and a family home in Camarillo were damaged by fire.
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