NEWBURY PARK : Early-Morning Blaze Guts 2 Businesses

A fire early Thursday caused $250,000 worth of damage to three Newbury Park businesses, two of which were gutted, authorities said.

The fire started at 12:19 a.m. at the Newbury Park Meat Market in a shopping center at 1700 Newbury Park Road, said Rhonda Roller, a spokeswoman for the Ventura County Fire Department.

The blaze spread to the Vicente Kitchen next door, gutting both establishments, Roller said. It was under control by 1:53 a.m.

Ralph Beck, who has co-owned the meat market with his son for the past three years, said he and his wife, Pauline, learned of the fire shortly after it started from a friend of his son who has a police radio.

“We jumped up and went over there,� Beck said, adding that he was thinking he was going to help put out the fire.

Beck said a fire investigator told him the fire may have been sparked by an electrical short in an office at the meat market.

However, Roller said the official cause has yet to be determined.

The Becks’ fire insurance policy was destroyed in the fire, but Beck said he believes the damage is covered.

An adjacent business, American Economy Cleaners, received smoke damage, Roller said.

Allan Silber, the owner of the cleaners, praised the Fire Department for saving his store.

“They kept all the flames out of here,� he said. “I’m just thrilled about that. . . . Smoke we can clean up.�