Elderly Newark Couple Awoken By Smoke Detector Escape Burning Home
NEWARK (CBS SF) -- Two elderly adults escaped their burning home without injury in Newark early Tuesday morning, according to an Alameda County fire battalion chief.
The one-alarm fire, located at a single-family single-story residence at 6065 Rockrose Drive near Mowry Avenue, was reported at 12:37 a.m., Alameda County fire Battalion Chief Terrence Carey said.
The two residents awoke to the sound of their smoke detector going off and self-evacuated from their home.
There was heavy smoke coming from the attic and fire coming from the main part of the residence when firefighters arrived, according to Carey.
"A working smoke detector saved their lives, I truly believe that," Carey said.
The fire was under control within 20 minutes and was knocked down at 1:07 a.m., according to Carey.
The fire began to threaten a home on the backside of the residence, but was knocked down before it spread to the neighboring home, Carey said.
Carey said the house was a complete loss and the two residents were displaced.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
