August 17, 2010 > Newark family of three escapes fire Newark family of three escapes fire By Meenu Gupta Photos By Courtesy of Alamdea County Fire Department A couple managed to escape with their toddler from a house fire during the early morning last Saturday. The fire started in the garage of the house located at 6625 Mirabeau Drive on August 14 at approximately 3:25 a.m. Amidst heavy smoke, the family safely evacuated without injury. However, the garage was destroyed and the kitchen significantly damaged. The residence also sustained considerable smoke and heat damage. When the firefighters arrived the garage was fully engulfed by smoke and flames poured out uncontrollably from the garage door. "While making quick access to the residence and aggressively attacking the fire, firefighters worked strategically to contain the fire to the residence of origin and protect the adjacent structures," said Alameda County Fire Department spokesperson, Aisha Knowles. The Red Cross was contacted to help the displaced family. To ensure the safety of the residents in the adjacent homes, the Newark Police Department collaborated with ACFD personnel and evacuated occupants at 6609 and 6641 Mirabeau Drive. Fire was under control within 15 minutes and only one adjacent residence located at 6641 Mirabeau Drive sustained minor fire damage. Fire investigators determined the area of origin of the fire as the garage; the cause is not known yet. Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $300,000; $200,000 structure and $100,000 contents. According to ACFD a functional smoke alarm in the hallway of the home did not have a battery installed. According to the U.S Fire Administration, each year in the United States about 3,000 people die in home fires. ACFD encourages community members to inspect and maintain their smoke alarms on a regular basis.