Dec. 23--A man died Monday morning after a Port Hueneme apartment fire, officials said.
The blaze was reported about 4:40 a.m. in the 2400 block of Madera Circle.
Responding Ventura County and Oxnard firefighters found a working blaze at a two-story apartment complex, Capt. Mike Lindbery said.
The victim was removed from the home and taken to a hospital, where he later died, officials said.
A resident smelled smoke and a fire alarm was pulled to alert the other residents.
Port Hueneme police responded to the scene and residents were able to leave the building safely, officials said.
While each apartment has individual smoke alarms, the complex was built before sprinkler systems were mandatory and it appears that the smoke detector inside the damaged apartment was not working properly.
In addition, the complex had an enclosed center hallway, making evacuations and extinguishment harder, Lindbery said.
"Had there been a working smoke alarm, it probably would have made a huge difference," Lindbery said.
The blaze was extinguished about 5:35 a.m.
About 75 people were able to get out of the 56-unit complex safely and none were displaced, Lindbery said.
The blaze only damaged the kitchen and its contents and did not spread to other rooms or any other unit in the complex.
The cause is still under investigation, but no foul play is suspected and the fire appears to have been accidental.
Copyright 2013 - Ventura County Star, Calif.
