Crime & Safety
Update: Union City Home Destroyed in Two-Alarm Blaze
A total of 16 people were displaced, including five children. The Alameda County Fire Department will gather gifts to give to the children.
Update: Alameda County Fire Department will accept gifts to be donated to the children impacted by the fire. Those impacted are a 1-year-old girl and four boys ages 1, 5, 7 and 9.
Donations will be accepted at any Union City firehouse until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24.
Original story:
Update Dec. 23, 2013, 5:59 p.m. -- A Union City home was completely destroyed -- along with all of their Christmas gifts -- in a two-alarm blaze just two days before the festive holiday.
According to the Alameda County Fire Department spokeswoman Aisha Knowles, eight units -- including four fire engines and two fire trucks -- responded to a two-story home on the 3200 block of San Pablo Way around 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Responding firefighters extinguished the blaze by 2 p.m. but the home was completely damaged, Knowles said. A photo released by the fire department shows extensive damage to the home with rear windows blown out and the roof collapsed.
"Thankfully, all of the family members are okay," Knowles said.
At one point while battling the blaze, firefighters had to exit the home due the fire escalating. The captain called a mayday distress signal when one of the firefighters could not be located. However, the firefighter was able to follow the fire hose and exit safely, according to a video shared by the Alameda County Fire Department.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
A total of 16 people, including seven residents and nine guests visiting for the holidays, were displaced. Among those affected are five children ages 1 to 9, Knowles said.
Knowles said the Alameda County Fire Department, which hosts an annual toy drive, is working with toy drive coordinators to assist the family and provide toys for the displaced children.
"We'll try to do what we can so that they can have a Christmas," Knowles said.
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Donations will be accepted at any Union City firehouse until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24.
Original story:
Update Dec. 23, 2013, 5:59 p.m. -- A Union City home was completely destroyed -- along with all of their Christmas gifts -- in a two-alarm blaze just two days before the festive holiday.
According to the Alameda County Fire Department spokeswoman Aisha Knowles, eight units -- including four fire engines and two fire trucks -- responded to a two-story home on the 3200 block of San Pablo Way around 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Responding firefighters extinguished the blaze by 2 p.m. but the home was completely damaged, Knowles said. A photo released by the fire department shows extensive damage to the home with rear windows blown out and the roof collapsed.
"Thankfully, all of the family members are okay," Knowles said.
At one point while battling the blaze, firefighters had to exit the home due the fire escalating. The captain called a mayday distress signal when one of the firefighters could not be located. However, the firefighter was able to follow the fire hose and exit safely, according to a video shared by the Alameda County Fire Department.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
A total of 16 people, including seven residents and nine guests visiting for the holidays, were displaced. Among those affected are five children ages 1 to 9, Knowles said.
Knowles said the Alameda County Fire Department, which hosts an annual toy drive, is working with toy drive coordinators to assist the family and provide toys for the displaced children.
"We'll try to do what we can so that they can have a Christmas," Knowles said.
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