Tragedy struck in San Leandro today as a house fire claimed the lives of two adults and left a child missing. The blaze, which was reported around 5:20 a.m. at an address on Darius Way and Altamont Road, caused extensive damage and several hospitalizations, as per KTVU. The Alameda County Fire Department retracted their initial confirmation that a 6-year-old had died, later clarifying that the fatality was not of a confirmed age and a child was still unaccounted for.
As smoke continued to rise from the scene hours after the first responders arrived, the fire intensified, presenting a challenging scene for the rescue workers. Dozens of Alameda County sheriff's deputies and six fire trucks responded, according to authorities. Despite the chaotic and confusing initial reports, a battalion chief later announced just before noon that two people were confirmed dead, and a search for the missing child was ongoing, as reported by Mercury News.
Amber Mendoza, a cousin of the victims, informed KTVU about the family who lived in the home. She spoke about the multi-generational household that included 6-year-old twin girls, their grandmother, and several aunts. "We saw the fire from down below. I was just very scared for those little girls, and all of them," Mendoza expressed. Meanwhile, the cause of the fire remains undetermined, and the Alameda County Sheriff's Office is handling what they consider an active crime scene, though no specifics about the investigation have been disclosed.
Complicating rescue efforts, initial information regarding the victims changed as the morning unfolded. Alameda County Fire spokesperson Cheryl Hurd spoke of the confusion stating initially a child was thought to have died, however, the department later revised this breaking heartache with updated information. Five people had been taken to the hospital by ambulance, one suffering from life-threatening injuries. Furthermore, William McDonald, the Alameda County Fire Chief, highlighted that while family members told crews two twin 6-year-olds lived in the house, the fate of one was uncertain, pending a thorough search of the debris. As reported by Mercury News, it was unclear until later in the day who had perished, with crews expected to continue their investigation well into the afternoon.
