Calif. Man Saves 92-Year-Old Mother From Fire

A Hayward man received major injuries this morning when he pulled his 92-year-old mother from their blazing home.

The woman, whose name was not released, was listed in critical condition from burns and smoke inhalation. Her 60-year-old son also was hospitalized, in serious condition.

The man reportedly arrived home from work shortly after 3:30 a.m. to find the two-bedroom home on the 300 block of A St. engulfed in flames and ran inside to get his mother, said Hayward Fire Capt. Thor Poulsen.

Both victims were transported to Eden Medical Center and stabilized before being taken to San Francisco's St. Francis Memorial Hospital burn unit, Poulsen said.

The woman was in a critical stage of burns and smoke inhalation when firefighters arrived at the scene, Poulsen said.

"Our hearts do go out to the victims in this case," he added.

The 850-square-foot home suffered an estimated $100,000 in damage.

A second fire in Hayward reported at 5:45 a.m. damaged a warehouse adjacent to a strip mall.

The two-alarm blaze prompted Hayward fire officials to request mutual aid, given the resources dedicated to the house fire.

The fire at 22938 Atherton St. damaged a plaster company and a warehouse containing plumbing supplies, Poulsen said.

It took firefighters more than three hours to contain the blaze given efforts to first protect adjacent businesses in the strip mall.

Traffic control near the blaze created traffic jams through the area for several hours this morning.

Damage was in excess of $500,000, Poulsen said.