Early-morning Fire Guts Home
José Calderon, owner of the property on Olive Street where a studio burned early yesterday morning, points up at the spot where he saw flames coming out of the window. Photo by Logan Hall
By Lenny Roberts
A single-alarm fire at 16 Olive Street destroyed a two-bedroom Oak View cottage early Tuesday morning and sent one victim to the hospital. The fire was reported to 911 dispatchers at 1:42 a.m.
Ojai Fire Station 21 irefighter Tony McHale said firefighters from Station 23 were first to arrive on scene, but had difficulty locating the home because it is surrounded by several other residences and structures. “When they got on scene, there were three residents. One female was injured apparently as she was getting out of the house,” McHale said. “She was taken to VCMC in stable condition.” Another ambulance was called to the scene, but the two other occupants of the home refused medical treatment, according to McHale, who added the family dog got out of the home safely, but a cat is missing.
McHale described the fire as stubborn, but quickly knocked down by engines from three valley fire stations. Other responders included a battalion chief and a light and air unit from Station 57.
McHale said the damage was pretty extensive, describing the home as a total loss. The Ventura County Chapter of the American Red Cross is providing the residents with shelter and basic needs. “They lost everything,” McHale said.
According to the report, there were no working smoke detectors in the residence.
The fire was knocked down at 1:59 a.m., and mop-up activity was completed at 4:21 a.m. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
go on google earth and type in the address to get an overhead view of the property boy what a cluster.
Several homes/structures on the property? And..how many are, as usual, illegal structures/housing?