Calif. Firefighters Save Unconscious Woman From Fire
Source San Jose Mercury News (California)
Firefighters rescued an unconscious woman and two small dogs from a burning home late Friday night after a neighbor alerted authorities to the blaze, a Hayward fire spokesman said.
About 10:30 p.m., 17 firefighters responded to the neighbor's call and arrived at Cypress Garden Apartments, a two-story complex in the 25000 block of Cypress Avenue, Capt. Thor Poulsen said.
Firefighters searched the unit and found the woman, who had passed out after discovering the blaze, Poulsen said.
She suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation and was transported to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, where she stayed overnight, the fire spokesman said.
Firefighters also rescued two Chihuahua dogs, which were unharmed, Poulsen said.
They used four fire engines and a truck to contain the blaze in eight minutes, limiting the damage to one apartment in the 21-unit complex, authorities said.
The fire started in the kitchen when the woman took a nap while frying chicken in peanut oil, fire officials said.
After being awakened by the blaze, she then passed out, Poulsen said.
The one-alarm fire caused about $50,000 in estimated damage to the kitchen area, he said.
It left the apartment uninhabitable, displacing the woman and her 15-year-old son.
Authorities are investigating why the flames did not set off the apartment's smoke detectors, fire officials said.
Contact Chris De Benedetti at 510-353-7011. Follow him atTwitter.com/cdebenedetti .
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