Update: Smoke Alarms Not Working In Fatal Pleasant Hill Fire

by Bay City News

A double-fatal fire at a Pleasant Hill apartment complex early this morning killed two residents in their early 30s who were living in a unit without working smoke detectors, a Contra Costa County Fire Protection District captain said.

The fire was reported at 3:30 a.m. at 8 Donegal Court, near the Martinez border.

It started in the downstairs area of one unit, and fire crews arrived to find two units engulfed in flames, Contra Costa County fire Capt. Robert Marshall said.
           
Two people were unable to escape the fire, Marshall said. They were found in a bedroom in the upstairs part of the apartment.

"The two deceased residents did try to make an escape," Marshall said.

He said the message fire crews want to share is that having a working smoke detector "greatly increases chances of survival."

The fire displaced 60 people, and the American Red Cross was called to assist them with temporary housing.

Marshall said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.