When the power suddenly cut out at her Oakley home yesterday, 10-year-old Elizabeth “Lizzy” Morgan did not just roll over and go back to sleep. She glanced out the window, saw flames, and started screaming to wake the house. Within minutes, all seven people inside had scrambled out as fire tore through the home, destroying nearly everything the family owned and killing two dogs and a roommate’s cat.
Firefighters with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District were called to the West Cypress Road home near Duarte Avenue at about 3:29 AM after reports of flames in the garage area, according to KTVU. Battalion Chief Jeff Burris told the station that crews arrived to find heavy fire and downed power lines that were actively arcing, complicating their initial push to get inside.
Inside the home, Lizzy’s quick reaction gave everyone a crucial head start. Her mother, Nena Morgan, told CBS Bay Area that Lizzy woke when the lights went out, looked outside, then began shouting to rouse the adults. Morgan said her two youngest children alerted everyone and helped get them out before firefighters could launch an interior attack. “She is our hero,” Morgan said, adding that the family lost nearly all of their possessions in the blaze.
Children Hailed as Heroes
Elizabeth, 10, and her brother Lucas, 11, are the youngest members of the household and are now being hailed by relatives and neighbors as heroes for how they handled the chaos, KTVU reported. All seven occupants escaped without physical injury, the station said, even as the fire raced through the structure.
The outcome was far worse for the family’s pets. The Morgans’ two dogs and a roommate’s cat did not survive, compounding the loss for a family that is now displaced and trying to figure out the next steps. The family has launched a Spotfund fundraiser to help cover immediate expenses while they look for temporary housing and start rebuilding their lives.
Investigation and Damage
Fire officials say the blaze appears to have started on the porch, and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District’s Investigations Bureau is handling the case, according to CBS Bay Area. The Red Cross responded to assist the displaced family at the scene.
The Morgans told reporters they had seen a small backyard fire in the neighborhood about two weeks earlier and now hope investigators can determine whether that earlier incident is connected to the blaze that destroyed their home.
How to Help
Local coverage notes that the family’s fundraiser is helping cover recovery costs, and neighbors have begun collecting clothes and basic necessities for the Morgans. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Contra Costa County Fire Investigation Bureau. The district shares general contact details and updates on its website at the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. For short-term needs, the Red Cross is coordinating immediate assistance for the family.
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