4 Teens Arrested in California Fire

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) â€” Four teen-agers were cited for allegedly starting a blaze that spread over 600 acres and surged within 100 feet of luxury homes. <br><br>The fire erupted early Tuesday and

Wednesday, December 27th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) â€” Four teen-agers were cited for allegedly starting a blaze that spread over 600 acres and surged within 100 feet of luxury homes.

The fire erupted early Tuesday and spread quickly in the powerful Santa Ana wind before it was fully contained 16 hours later with no homes lost, Ventura County Fire Department spokeswoman Sandi Wells said.

Two 16-year-old boys, a 17-year-old and Chad Montagnino, 18, were arrested on suspicion of carelessly causing a fire, sheriff's Sgt. Ron Nelson said. They also were booked on suspicion of taking a vehicle without the owner's permission, said Detective J.T. Manwell.

The vehicle, a van that belonged to the mother of one of the boys and had been reported stolen, became stuck in rugged terrain and ignited dry brush, Nelson said.

More than 600 firefighters aided by water-dropping helicopters and retardant-dropping air tankers battled the flames in the city of 120,000 about 40 miles west of Los Angeles.

Ventura County Fire Dispatcher Charles Carranza said late Tuesday that firefighters were anticipating only moderate breezes Wednesday and into the weekend, and hoped the worst of the fires were behind them.

``It should be pretty calm,'' he said.

Another Ventura County fire, a 369-acre blaze that started Christmas Day in mountainous terrain, was declared fully contained late Tuesday, though it was still being monitored.