Crews, two from Santa Paula and one each Ventura County and Fillmore City, responded to the fire, contained to the patio area, and firefighters were able to knock down the fire in 10 to 15 minutes.
Fildes said overhaul was completed and the scene cleared of fire personnel just after midnight.
“It appears that the fire was accidental caused by smoking materials in the sofa... we ruled out all other causes,” said Fildes, and “that was the only one that was left. There was only minor damage to the house and the inside, mainly smoke and water damage.”
The sofa was destroyed and the patio area will have to be replaced; Fildes estimated overall damage at about $20,000.
He noted the patio area was, “Set up so you could go and hang out underneath this covered patio. It was an outdoor extension of the house covered with roof, probably 20 feet by 30 feet. It covered the entire back area of the house, a fairly large, nice outdoor living area.”
Such fires, Fildes said, can’t be prevented: “If you do smoke you have to be very careful to put cigarettes in approved containers,” and make sure they are fully extinguished.
“It was warm that night with a little bit of a breeze, and that’s all it took,” to spread the fire.
