A late-afternoon fire in Oxnard gutted a modest one-bedroom apartment and killed two household cats that could not escape the heat and smoke, fire officials said. The fire, which started

about 4 p.m. Thursday, engulfed the upper apartment structure while resident Batricia Poynter was away. It caused $55,000 worth of damage, officials said. Officials think the fire might have

been caused by a stove left turned on. Neighbor Arleene Solis described Poynter as “always looking out for everybody. She’s our neighborhood watch.” MORE TO READ