Family Flees Early Morning House Fire

A family of five fled their home early Monday when a fire broke out near the back patio and flames engulfed the residence, authorities said.

David Valeu was awakened by either a smoke alarm or windows shattering when the fire started about 1:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of DeWayne Avenue, fire officials said.

As Valeu roused his wife and three children, several neighbors who spotted the flames called firefighters, who put out the fire in about 30 minutes.

“He grabbed the family and got out of the house, and there was just too much fire to go back in and try to retrieve anything,” said Sandi Wells, chief information officer for the Ventura County Fire Department.

Flames gutted the home, causing $165,000 damage, fire officials said. The cause was under investigation, but authorities were examining whether downed power lines in the backyard were to blame.

Rudy Gonzales, a spokesman for Southern California Edison, said a crew was called to the scene after the fire was put out, but it was unclear if power lines next to the house came down before or during the blaze.