MONTE SERENO – A two-alarm house fire that left an older married couple dead Wednesday morning in Monte Sereno has been classified as accidental, authorities said.
Read more Three arrested in separate alleged gang-related stabbings in San Jose
Investigators determined the blaze started in a kitchen area, according to the Santa Clara County Fire Department.
“Tragically, there were no smoke alarms found in the home – a key contributing factor to the deadly nature of the early morning fire,” the agency said in a news release.
Fire crews also encountered “heavy interior clutter,” which made access difficult and “may have further hindered the victims’ ability to exit safely,” according to the fire department.
The blaze broke out at about 2 a.m. Wednesday in the 17000 block of Rose Court.
A spokesperson for the agency said the couple was found in bed in a second-story bedroom. They were taken to an area hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
The deadly blaze serves as a “stark reminder” of the importance of fire safety measures, according to the fire department.
The agency urged residents to install and test smoke alarms, sleep with bedroom doors closed, keep exit paths clear, and plan and practice two escape routes from every room.
Read more Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed
Check back for updates.
About the Author
