BLAZE POSSIBLY LINKED TO ARSONS.Byline: Don Holland Daily News Staff Writer An early morning fire, believed to be intentionally set, that did an estimated $32,000 in damage to a house may be connected with other arson arson, at common law, the malicious and willful burning of the house of another. Originally, it was an offense against the security of habitation rather than against property rights. blazes, fire officials said. A resident reported a strong smell of smoke around 1:33 a.m. Thursday near Beaver beaver, either of two large aquatic rodents, Castor fiber and Castor canadensis, known for their engineering feats. They were once widespread in N and central Eurasia except E Siberia, and in North America from the arctic tree line to the S United and Watson avenues. As firefighters neared the area to investigate, neighbors began reporting a fiery glow coming from a house in the 800 block of Watson Avenue, said Sandi Wells, a spokeswoman for the Ventura County Fire Department Not to be confused with Ventura Fire Department. The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) provides fire protection and emergency response services for the unincorporated areas of Ventura County, California, and for six other cities within the county. . Firefighters made two searches, but found no one inside. The residents recently had moved out while the 2,000-square-foot, $152,000 home underwent renovation in preparation for sale. Hours after the last embers em·ber n. 1. A small, glowing piece of coal or wood, as in a dying fire. 2. embers The smoldering coal or ash of a dying fire. had cooled, investigators were still on the scene collecting clues. ``They have definitely determined it to be arson,'' Wells said. ``They have no suspects at this point, but there is evidence definitely to indicate arson.'' Officials declined to detail evidence. But Wells said the fire is similar to four unsolved arsons during the past two years in Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. . In November, a home on Casual Court that was in the process of being vacated and sold was set ablaze Verb 1. set ablaze - set fire to; cause to start burning; "Lightening set fire to the forest" set afire, set aflame, set on fire combust, burn - cause to burn or combust; "The sun burned off the fog"; "We combust coal and other fossil fuels" in the middle of the night. Other unsolved arson incidents include a model home in the Wood Ranch development that was twice set on fire. And in 1996, a fire that broke out while the residents were on vacation damaged a Bromfield Street home. ``They may or may not be related, but there are certain similarities, especially with the (Casual Court) case,'' Wells said. ``I wouldn't say that Simi Valley has a prevalent problem at this time, but we would like to solve all four of the cases.'' Anyone with information on the incidents is asked to call the Ventura County Fire Department at (805) 388-4276. |
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