Man Suffers Burns in Fire That Destroys Santa Paula Condos

A 50-year-old man was hospitalized with second-degree burns, and nearly two dozen people were displaced when fire destroyed a six-unit condominium complex in Santa Paula on Tuesday afternoon, fire officials said.

The fire started about noon at the two-story Monterey condominiums in the 200 block of West Santa Barbara Street, said Capt. John Harber of the Santa Paula Fire Department.

The four upper units were gutted, and two lower units were damaged by water, Harber said.

About 60 firefighters from Santa Paula, Fillmore and the Ventura County departments battled the blaze until about 1:50 p.m., Harber said.

Juan Lopez Viveros, a resident of the complex, was replacing a fuel pump on a pickup in the garage beneath the complex when he accidentally sparked the fire, Harber said.

Viveros suffered burns to his hands, face and upper body and was taken to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital for treatment, Harber said.

He was in stable condition, said Ventura County Fire Department spokeswoman Sandi Wells.

No other people were reported injured.

Red Cross workers arrived to assist the 23 residents, including children, who were displaced by the blaze.

The evacuees will be provided with food, clothing and shelter, Harber said.

Children from nearby Glen City School were taken to the Santa Paula Community Center on Main Street after school to protect them from heavy smoke, Wells said.

Students from Isbell Middle School and Santa Paula High School also were asked to move to the community center for after-school programs Tuesday.

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Times staff writer Jenifer Ragland contributed to this report.