Mobile home fire in Newbury Park turns fatal

A man died after a fire broke out early Tuesday in his Newbury Park mobile home.

The fire was reported at 1:49 am along St. John’s Court, a street within the Ventu Estates mobile home park, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. The mobile home is located off Ventu Park Road just north of the intersection at Lynn Road.

Arriving firefighters found smoke and fire coming from the trailer. The sole occupant of the unit, later identified as Walter Salat, 69, was reported to still be inside when the fire broke out.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Capt. Trina Newman said Salat used a wheelchair to get around and was unable to escape. A sign outside the mobile home park said the neighborhood is a community housing facility for people 55 years and older.

Crews rescued Salat from the burning structure and performed CPR before transporting him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A preliminary investigation by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Salat’s death was caused by thermal burns and smoke inhalation and the manner of his death was an accident.

Neighbor Diane Kinnon said others had already called 911 before she noticed the flames. Her unit was spared from the fire, with only the bushes lining the outside sustaining damage.

“I was screaming because I thought it was going to get more houses,” Kinnon said.

Ventura County firefighters declared the fire knocked down by 2:15 am and fully out by 3:26 am The investigation remains ongoing, but initial evidence indicates the fire may have started accidentally, according to fire Capt. Brian McGrath.