SANTA MARIA, Calif. - There's new information on a fire that broke out yesterday in Santa Maria. Twelve people who were living inside the home escaped unharmed. But today the city is investigating the home for possible code violations.
A lot of burnt items from inside the house were still on the driveway early Monday morning. Cleanup crews say there's still a lot more inside. But it's what was found in the garage by firefighters yesterday that is catching the city's attention.
I spoke with Santa Maria Fire Battalion Chief Scott Johnson. He says there were signs that at least one person was living in the garage. There was a burnt mattress and other bedroom items found in the rubble. Living in a garage is against Santa Maria code compliance.
Chief Johnson says having 12 people in one house is also a cause for concern.
"There are a lot of combustibles," says Johnson. "You have a lot of things in the house when you have four families living in a house that's built for a single family resident. So yes the danger is there."
The City Attorney's Office says that there was no immediate investigation going on, but expressed that could change in the near future.
All 12 of the people living inside the house were given shelter through the Red Cross.
