SIMI VALLEY : Red Cross to House 8 Victims of Fire

Eight people left homeless by a house fire in Simi Valley will be put up in a temporary shelter by the American Red Cross throughout the weekend.

The fire, which occurred at 8:55 p.m. Thursday at 1698 Sutter Ave., caused an estimated $25,000 worth of damage to the house and $10,000 worth of damage to the residents’ belongings, officials said.

The fire was started by cigarettes on a couch in a garage converted to living quarters, Ventura County Fire Department officials said Friday.

The fire, which was controlled in about 10 minutes, spread to the kitchen and dining room areas.

Between 10 and 15 people lived in the one-story, three-bedroom house owned by Luis Alcala, 28, who was at work when the fire occurred, authorities said. Six adults and two children sought help from the Ventura County chapter of the American Red Cross and the rest made arrangements to stay elsewhere.

The residents were able to recover most of their clothing, so the Red Cross chapter is assisting with food and shelter, said Mike Goth of the Ventura County chapter.

Red Cross volunteers from the East Valley District Office will also help the residents find housing and other necessities until they are able to return to the Sutter Avenue home.

To help the victims of the fire and other disasters in Ventura County, donations may be sent to the Ventura County chapter, American Red Cross, P.O. Box 5850, Ventura 93005-5850.