Arson Suspected at Unfinished House

Arson is suspected in an early-morning blaze that began at a house under construction and spread to a second home.

A neighbor in the 4200 block of Florence Street saw the flames and smoke and called fire officials shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, said Charles Carranza, a Ventura County Fire Department dispatcher.

Firefighters arrived within minutes and put out the blaze, which caused $10,000 worth of damage at the construction site. Police said the fire was started in a pile of lumber in front of the house.

The outside of the adjacent house was badly scorched and sustained $5,000 in damage, Carranza said. No one was was hurt. An investigation is continuing.