Home explosion sends shock waves through El Rio neighborhood

Neighbors in the El Rio community of Oxnard are still shaken after an explosion at a home sends a family of three to the hospital.

It happened Saturday morning around eight on the corner of Lemar Avenue and Cortez Street.

Neighbors say a blast shook the street and then flames and smoke were seen coming from the home.

Anabelle Perez lives across the street from the incident. She says it jolted her out of bed.

“All I heard was a big bang and the house shook,” said Perez.

Some neighbors say a young family was renting a room when the blast went off. They say the explosion seemed to come from the garage.

Three people were sent to the hospital with burn injuries.

“It was sad to see the mom completely burned, like from head to toe and the dad was only burned from the hands, but the little girl was burned from her face,” said Perez.

Ventura County Fire Capt. Stan Ziegler says the department believes the incident was an accident.

The cause remains under investigation.