Elderly Woman, Son Die In Walnut Creek Townhome Fire

WALNUT CREEK, CA — A townhouse fire that claimed two lives Monday morning in Walnut Creek has been deemed accidental in nature, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said.

A third victim escaped the two-alarm fire that was reported at 6:23 a.m. Monday in the 1900 block of Countrywood Court.

When crews arrived, one of the three people living in the unit told firefighters that the other two residents were still inside on the second floor.

The fire started in a first-floor bedroom with the preliminary ignition source believed to be smoking materials, Con Fire said. An oxygen machine contributed to rapid fire spread.

An elderly woman and her adult son died in the fire, as did a small dog.

The victims' names were not released.

Firefighters contained the blaze to three townhomes. As of 7:40 a.m., the fire was extinguished, Con Fire said on social media.

Crews remained on scene much of the morning, investigating the blaze.

The public was asked to avoid the area.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.