Just a few hours after the Santa Clara County Fire Department made a routine presentation to Monte Sereno City Council about their operations last night, firefighters were dispatched to a house fire in that city—on the 17000 block of Rose Court—that would ultimately claim the lives of two residents.
The call came in at 2:04am as a report of a structure fire. Upon arrival around 2:10am, firefighters found a two-story home with fire coming through the roof.
Access to the home was difficult due to various obstructions.
“Once inside, firefighters conducted a rapid primary search, locating two older adult patients who were rescued from the home,” an SCCFD spokesperson said in a news release. “Both patients were transported by ambulance to Valley Medical Center and have since succumbed to their injuries.”
Initial knockdown was reported at 2:33am.
The cause is under investigation by the Santa Clara County Fire Department in conjunction with the Santa Clara County Fire Investigation Taskforce.
“This is a tragic outcome and we extend our deepest sympathy to the victims’ family,” the spokesperson added.
Monte Sereno Mayor Lon Allan recalled how the fire department had just presented that there was only one fire in the last fiscal year.
“Eight hours after they give that, we have a house engulfed,” he said, noting he learned of the incident at 8:30am from the city manager. “It’s an absolute tragedy.
“Our hearts go out to the affected people.”
(Video courtesy of the Santa Clara County Fire Department)
Fire officials are sharing several relevant safety reminders, given this was a residential home fire that started in the early morning hours.
● Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Install working smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside every bedroom, and outside all sleeping areas. Test them monthly and replace batteries annually (or when the low-battery chirp sounds).
● Close Before You Doze: Close your bedroom door before going to sleep. A closed door can slow the spread of smoke, heat, and flames, giving you precious additional time to escape or call for help.
● Keep Access and Exit Paths Clear: Maintain clear pathways throughout your home, especially in hallways, stairways, doorways, and around windows. Clutter can block primary exit routes for occupants and delay access for emergency responders.
● Practice Safe Lithium-Ion Battery Charging: Always use manufacturer-certified chargers and cables for electronics, e-bikes, or scooters. Never charge devices on soft surfaces (like beds or sofas), under pillows, or near flammable items, and disconnect devices once fully charged. The National Fire Protection Association has identified lithium-ion battery safety as the theme during fire prevention week (Oct. 4-10).
For the prior fiscal year (July 1-June 30), in addition to the single Monte Sereno fire, SCCFD also responded to one rescue call and 124 emergency medical calls. The fire department’s average response time was five minutes, two seconds.
