Garage Fire Burns Residents Out Of Home

Three adults and seven children were displaced Monday after a fire damaged the garage of a home near Goleta.

Thirteen Santa Barbara County firefighters fought the blaze that caused $25,000 in damage at 529 Zink Avenue. The fire in the garage was sparked by an uncovered electrical outlet in the ceiling that short-circuited and dropped hot material onto combustibles, fire officials said.

At the time of the fire, three juveniles were in the house but safely evacuated after a neighbor knocked on the door to warn them, officials said.

The home had working smoke detectors, officials said, but they were not activated because the fire did not reach the living area. No smoke detectors were in the garage.

No one was injured in the fire. The Red Cross was called to assist the 10 people - three adults and seven children - who live in the home.

Source: Santa Maria Times - County Lines 3/27