By Ventura Breeze Staff –
On January 8, at approximately 8:00 a.m., the Olivas Fire broke out near the Santa Clara River bottom, a location known to be frequented by unhoused individuals. At the time of the fire, the Sheriff’s Office Homeless Liaison Unit (HLU) was actively conducting outreach in the area.
The fire described as fast-moving and rapidly evolving quickly began to spread. The Sheriff’s Office Homeless Liaison Unit shifted gears and immediately started making notifications to individuals in the area to evacuate.
At the conclusion of the fire, Sheriff’s dispatch received a call for service of a deceased individual where the fire had burned. Deputies from the Headquarters Police Station responded to the area and located an individual who is believed to have been trapped in by the fire and was deceased.
The Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit immediately responded and assumed control of the investigation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and the Sheriff’s Office is working closely with fire officials. The identification of the decedent is still pending further investigation.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact Detective Rico Rinaldi at 805 384-4732.
