Tragedy struck Ventura, CA, when a fire erupted on the morning of January 8, near the Santa Clara River bottom, leading to a death investigation. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office has detailed that the blaze, known as the Olivas Fire, began around 8:00 a.m. and quickly spread through an area frequented by homeless populations. In efforts to confront the emergency, the Sheriff's Homeless Liaison Unit (HLU), already on the ground conducting outreach, pivoted to alert individuals to evacuate the area.

Following the Olivas Fire, which was described as "fast-moving and rapidly evolving," a deceased adult male was discovered in the burn area, as conveyed by a media release from the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Making notifications to evacuate, the unit's original mission to aid the homeless was shifted quickly.

Sergeant Monica Smith prepared the information which indicates that deputies from the Headquarters Police Station responded to a service call and found the decedent. The Major Crimes Unit of the Sheriff's Office took over the investigation promptly. Currently, the victim's identity and the cause of the fire are pending further investigation, as per the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's officials are collaborating with fire authorities to determine how the fire started.

Residents with information related to the incident are encouraged to reach out to Detective Rico Rinaldi at 805 384-4732. Ventura County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest and the filing of a criminal complaint regarding this incident. Tips can be submitted anonymously, and callers can dial Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).