Ember from Fireplace Blamed in House Fire

A smoldering ember from a fireplace is being blamed for a house fire Saturday afternoon in Thousand Oaks that caused $150,000 damage and displaced three people, authorities said.

Two dogs were also threatened by the blaze at 1422 Strawberry Hill Road, but neither animal was injured.

County firefighters arrived at 3 p.m. and discovered that the fire was confined to the roof and attic, said spokeswoman Sandi Wells.

But it took 43 minutes to contain the blaze because of embers in the wooden shingle roof, Wells said.

“Getting there was tough too, because the streets are so narrow,” she said.

Strawberry Hill Road is part of the Westgate Estates tract near Janns Road and the Moorpark Freeway. Most of the homes were built in the early 1960s, Wells said.

Jean Fensler said she was visiting with a neighbor on Strawberry Hill Road, when they saw smoke coming from the two-story house belonging to Gary and Linda Allen.

“My friend called 911, and then we both ran outside,” Fensler said. “The house was on fire.”

Of great concern to neighbors was the safety of Monika Heman, 68, who rents a room from the Allens and was the only person inside at the time of the fire.

“My neighbor’s husband ran into the house and got the lady out,” Fensler said. “Then four or five of the neighbor men got hoses and tried to put out the fire. But it was going much too good for that.”

Neighbors were also concerned for the safety of Tigger and Taffy, the Allens’ mixed-breed dogs who were locked in the backyard.

“We got them out OK and they’re staying down at the neighbors,” Fensler said. Authorities placed the damage to the house at $100,000, and $50,000 to the contents.

Despite the loss, Wells said, “The crews did a good job of saving a lot of furniture.”