Why Did Ricki Lake's Malibu Home Burn Down?

By Christine Fenno Posted Sep 19th 2010 12:39PM

Not long after sunrise on Saturday morning, firefighters responded to a 911 call from the home of talk-show-maven-turned-filmmaker Ricki Lake, and found her safely at the side of a Malibu, Calif., road with her two sons and the family dog. The beachfront paradise she was renting, however, was completely destroyed by flames that began indoors (click here to see the damage up close) and ultimately created a fire dangerous enough to shut down a portion of the Pacific Coast Highway.

Today, Lake's publicist tells PopEater that the fire (which began yesterday at approximately 7:25 a.m.) "was very scary, but she and the boys are fine," which echoes Lake's latest tweet: "Thank you everyone for your concern and well wishes...My sons, beloved dog and I are are safe and very grateful."

Meanwhile, the owners of the multimillion-dollar property were reportedly none too pleased to learn that Lake accidentally caused the fire while performing a mundane chore inside the house -- and a source even alleges to RadarOnline that the star did little to stop the flames from spreading, instead spending precious minutes rescuing her personal belongings from the home. So, what really happened?

"When our deputies arrived and contacted Ms. Lake, they determined initially through their investigation that she had been refueling some sort of portable heater, which had been next to a couch," said Lt. Rick Erickson of the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept., according to a local ABC report. "Somehow that couch caught fire. She made an effort to put the fire out but apparently some embers remained and the couch continued to ignite and eventually set the house ablaze."

Witnesses reported 30-foot flames rising in the air from the home's roof at one point, and spotted firefighters cutting into residents' gates next door in order to contain the fire and keep it from spreading.

Capt. Larry Robideaux (L.A. County Fire Dept.) downplayed the drama, telling Radar, "Ms. Lake was refueling a portable heater inside her home and accidentally caused the fire...It took crews approximately ten minutes to extinguish the fire....This has been ruled as an accidental fire. Case closed."

Still, an insider close the the landlord insists, "This has really torn the [owner] apart. They feel that Ricki was negligent in trying to refill an outdoor heater indoors....The family doesn't understand why Ricki apparently made no attempt to put out the fire...She decided to move her cars....even bring out boxes of clothes as she watched the fire burn the house to the ground....They are talking to their lawyers about suing."

Just what daytime TV needs, a Ricki Lake comeback as she defends herself on Judge Judy! Seriously, the most important thing is that nobody was injured in what appears to have been a roaring inferno of a fire.

Tags: Ricki Lake

Comments

(95)

Monday 20 September

By walter

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She interviews a lot of dumb people, with dumb and inconsequential questions. I guess she is as dumb and inconsequential as her followers. What can you expect from such people.

By John Alan

To the Owners: File a insurance claim, get your 7 figure settlement for that dump, sell the property for twice that amount, make the talk show circuit, then disappear forever!

By walt

What burned the house down? HUH, DUH, FIRE! Fan Ricki Lake's

By james russell

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the fire department ought to cit her for stupidity. anyone who has a portable heater and needs to refill should always do it outside the house on a cement driveway or patio away from the house and prevailing wind. only after it is filled and cleaned of any drips from the accelerant do you take it into the house. never ever fill or light near furniture. Also was this heater vented properly to be used insdie the house? CITATION please!!!!

By Lori

Why was she renting? With her money why doesn't she just a buy a house?

By Judy

A Multi million dollar home that doesn't have its own heating system? Sounds like someone is putting a value on something thats not worth it!

By Beverly

People have insurance and you can build another home but you can't build another person. She did what everyone would have done, get your kids and dog and a few things you can grab along the way out of the house and stay safe. These people seem to only worry about their precious home. Glad you and your family are safe Ricki

By ablacksafari

The ladies in jail will keep her nice and warm, Yummy

By Addiesmom

um, why do the owners want to sue? Don't they have property insurance? And if they don't, that's just their own stupidity.
They're just trying to make a buck from a celebrity (even if she's sorta fallen out of fame).
Someone in our area accidentally burned down an apartment building with some candles. No one is suing her. They're just glad everyone was safe.
People are sue-happy, so when people really have a good reason for suing, no one takes them seriously.

By Norm Doty

If the home was insured, the insurer will pay the owner (and Mortgagee, if any) and then is entitled to file against the negligent tenant for recovery (a process called subrogation). Responsible tenants carry renter's insurance which includes liability coverage for damages they may negligently cause to the landlord's real property. Of course, the liability coverage has to be set at an amount reflecting the value of the property they are renting.

By Benelli

For all of you hating on the Property Owner/Landlord, how would you feel if it were YOUR house that someone else burned to the ground. You all talk about insurance, but houses aren't worth what they used to be so who knows if they will even get back what they owed and then will have to build again...

Lake was negligent for sure and just because you rent- doesn't mean you are not liable for damages- especially after she admitted to it!

By dmgg711

Glad she had the intelligence to get what she could save along with her kids and dog. Once a fire gets out of control you only have little precious time to get out.

The house looks old and made of wood so it was kindling. The landlords collected a lot more than the place was worth because of the view. The place had to have been insured for more than the actual worth of the building. Accidents do happen and it was not intentional.

By KELLY

Great thing no one was hurt, but if I were the landlord I would also be angry. If the story is true negligence is definately key to this fire. Why would anyone try to fill an outdoor heater indoors next to a couch??? If you're dumb enough to do it in the house at least fill it somewhere with less risk of anything catching fire. Rebuilding is not the issue and Insurance was not at fault Ms Lake was.

By Josetta

If the fire inspector ruled it an accident then that should be enough. Lives could've been taken. Get over it and leave her alone! That's why you have owner's hazard insurance. Or did they?? That's probably what the big fuss is about! You're suppose to get homeowner's insurance if you want your property protected. Why try to sue her? Just be glad nobody was hurt!!!!!!!

By VELMA1 TEXAS

RICKI YOU HOLD YOUR HEAD UP HIGH,JUST THANK THE LORD YOU CAN HOLD YOUR HEAD UP AT ALL.SOME PEOPLE SOMETIME DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT,THEY ARE DUMMIES.

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