SPFD Engines 81 and 82 were on scene within minutes and soon joined by a Fillmore Fire Department unit...other responding units were canceled once the scene was examined.With the volatile nature of wood stripper the workers were “lucky they didn’t burn the house down,” noted Chief Araiza and infra-red cameras were used by SPFD personnel to ensure that the flames had not spread behind kitchen walls.Chief Araiza said that damage to the cabinets and kitchen counter were estimated at about $2,000 and about $500 to contents.“It was a smoky fire and apparently the smoke detector did not go off,” although workmen made sure that everyone was out of the house.The SPPD and Fillmore Fire units left the scene after about an hour, he noted.It is not known if the owner of the historic home, Jacqueline Hamilton, was at her Teague Road residence at the time of the blaze.
Workers ignite kitchen fire at historic Teague Mansion
August 15, 2007
Santa Paula News
A quick save of what could have been a major fire at the Teague Mansion occurred after workers accidently ignited a kitchen fire at one of the city’s most famous homes, according to a Santa Paula Fire Department official.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA quick save of what could have been a major fire at the Teague Mansion occurred after workers accidently ignited a kitchen fire at one of the city’s most famous homes, according to a Santa Paula Fire Department official.Chief Rick Araiza said that the fire was reported Saturday, August 11 at 3:39 p.m.“It turned out to be a quick save with very little damage,” noted Chief Araiza.Workers were refinishing kitchen cabinets and while using steel wool on the stripping compound “they were rubbing the steel wool across an electrical socket” when it sparked and ignited.The fire quickly spread to the other cabinets that were coated with stripper but the workers were able to “smother the fire” before SPFD personnel arrived on scene, although Chief Araiza said, “we went in as a full-blown structure response.”
