House Destroyed in Morning Fire
An overloaded electrical outlet caused an early morning blaze that destroyed a Santa Paula home Friday, fire authorities said.
Santa Paula Fire Capt. Kevin Fildes said the residents of the home, in the 500 block of Guiberson Street, were awakened by smoke about 5:45 a.m.
The residents found flames erupting through a kitchen window and tried to put out the fire. After discovering the fire was part of a larger blaze coming from a makeshift work shed outside, the residents fled the house and called 911, Fildes said.
By the time firefighters arrived, flames had engulfed the home and were shooting out the front door, Fildes said.
It took about 30 minutes for the 20 firefighters, including a team from the Ventura County Fire Department, to knock out the blaze, Fildes said.
No one was injured, but the home was a total loss. Damage estimates totaled about $200,000, authorities said.
Investigators said outlets in the outside shed were loaded with several extension cords.
Authorities believe overloaded circuits sparked the fire, Fildes said.
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