Smoldering electrical fire at Acacia Road home quickly extinguished
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: August 08, 2008
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
A smoldering fire from aged electrical wiring brought the Santa Paula Fire Department to an Acacia Road home on Wednesday where they found smoke but, according to a SPFD spokesman, no actual fire.
Chief Rick Araiza said that a structure fire on the 300 block of Acacia Road – north of Highway 126 - was reported on August 6 at about 9:40 a.m.
Upon arrival SPFD personnel found “Smoke was coming from the vents underneath the house,” the result of an electrical fire that “had started in one of the wall sockets. The only escape for the smoke was going underneath and coming out of the vents.”
The residents of the home had smelled the smoke, but “Basically there were no flames, at that point it was just smoldering.”
Santa Paula Fire personnel used thermal imaging equipment to check the older lathe and plaster structure and found no fire: “It hadn’t started burning yet,” said Chief Araiza.
Firefighters had to cut into an exterior wall to gauge the incident but with the help of the thermal imaging unit were able to pinpoint the location, keeping damage to a minimum.
The residents were proactive: “The home’s occupants had already shut down their breakers, but it was still smoldering,” said Chief Araiza.
Building and Safety Department personnel were called to the scene to assess the structure’s electrical wiring system.
Personnel from SPFD Engine 81 and 82 remained on the scene for about 45 minutes before the incident was cleared.
Chief Araiza said that the cause of the fire was not due to overloading the outlet: “There was no load on the outlet at all…it was older wiring with no ground on it, it probably loosened up and started arcing.”
Damage to the structure was estimated at about $1,000.
“Our two units were able to handle it…Ventura County Fire was called but were cancelled before they arrived on scene.”
Chief Araiza said the residents were “Lucky it happened during the day,” and they were able to smell smoke before a more serious fire occurred.
