Fatal House Fire in Goleta

KEYT

An over-night house fire in Goleta claimed the life of a local man, sleeping in his bed. Flames burned the main structure at La Patera Rancho located on the 900 block of North La Patera Lane.

Santa Barbara County Fire Officials say two ranch workers were sleeping when the blaze broke out around 2 a.m. this morning.

The fire crews on the scene could not find a water supply on the property, so they had to draw from a nearby pond to battle the flames.

The blaze also came close to power lines. Firefighters discovered the victim's body after they doused the flames. The case of the fire is under investigation.

---
SB Daily Sound

A two-alarm house fire early this morning in the Goleta Valley claimed the life of at least one resident, fire officials said.At 2:48 a.m., firefighters arrived at 900 N. La Patera Lane to find the main ranch house fully engulfed in flames, County Fire Spokesman Michael Burke said. Live power lines on the ground and a lack of water made it difficult for crews to knock down the blaze, officials said.

“That area is kind of rural, and basically we bring our own water with us up there, so we had to wait for our water tenders,” Burke said. “They lost pretty much the whole main house there on the ranch.”

At 1 p.m., Burke said investigators are still on the scene, trying to determine the cause of the blaze. Officials had not determined the age or gender of the victim yet, he said, adding that more information will be made available throughout the day.

In The Backyard: Goleta House Fire

KSBY

Another Central Coast home goes up in smoke.

It happened around 8 this morning [April 7] on Capellina Way in Goleta. Firefighters were able to put out the blaze in less than half an hour.

The single family residence was badly damaged by the flames. Damages are estimated at 40-thousand dollars.

Luckily no one was home at the time of the incidence.

Close To Home: House Fire Displaces UCSB Students

KEYT (KEY News reporter Regina Ruiz has more: Video)

Easter weekend is off to a rocky start for 13 UCSB students. They don't have a place to live after their Isla Vista home caught fire. But, officials say it could have been worse if a one of the roommates hadn't used a fire extinguisher.

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