Fire investigators say a married couple who died in an early-morning house fire in Monte Sereno on Wednesday might have had a chance to escape if the home had working smoke detectors.
What happened
Santa Clara County Fire Department crews were called around 2 a.m. Wednesday to a two-story home in the 17000 block of Rose Court, near Rose Drive. Arriving firefighters saw flames coming through the roof and called a second alarm, bringing about 40 firefighters to the scene, CBS Bay Area reported.
Crews reached the couple, both about 80 years old, in their bedroom and pulled them out within roughly 15 minutes, Assistant Chief Bill Murphy said, according to KTVU and the Los Gatan. Both were taken to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, where they died. Their names have not been released pending notification of relatives.
What investigators found
At a Thursday press conference, Assistant Fire Chief Jeremy Davis said the fire started accidentally in the kitchen, either from unattended cooking or a problem with the stove or microwave, KTVU reported.
Investigators did not find a single smoke alarm in the home. Davis said that was a factor in the deaths: the couple was in a bedroom, and getting out would have meant passing through a living room connected to the burning kitchen. Early warning, he said, may have given them an opportunity to leave.
Fire officials also said a large accumulation of household items throughout the property made it harder for crews to reach the couple and would have made it hard for the pair to flee, the Los Gatan reported. NBC Bay Area quoted a neighbor and family friend who said she had long worried about the stored material at the front of the house.
The takeaway from firefighters
Fire officials urged residents to make sure they have working smoke detectors and two clear ways in and out of their homes, KRON4 reported. Many fire departments in the region offer free smoke alarm checks and installation for older adults; residents can contact their local department to ask.