Mother, Infant Escape House Fire

A mother and her 6-month-old baby escaped uninjured Monday morning from a fire in their rented two-story house, Ventura County fire officials said.

The home in the 100 block of North Pueblo Avenue sustained an estimated $20,000 in damage to the structure and its contents, Capt. Wayne Maynard said.

The cause of the blaze was not yet clear, he said, although officials had determined that it started near a bed.

Firefighters arriving shortly after the fire was reported about 9:15 a.m. saw a tenant outside, using a garden hose against the flames, Maynard said.

Up to 25 firefighters extinguished the blaze shortly before 10.

The American Red Cross arranged temporary shelter for the family, Maynard said.

He said the family was lucky to have escaped, because a smoke detector in the home appeared to have been removed.

“Because they were awake when the fire occurred, they got out alive,” Maynard said. “If the fire had occurred at night, without a detector, there’s a good chance someone could have been killed.”