One woman, one dog die in Mill Valley fire; other dogs hurt

MILL VALLEY, Calif. - One woman and a dog died Monday in a Mill Valley fire, according to the Marin Valley Fire Protection Fire District. 

The fire was reported around 12:30 a.m. at 744 Alta Vista Road.

"I was about to go to sleep, and I heard sirens. Did not seem to be nearby. I looked out the window and I saw what looked like flashing lights by Tam Junction, and figured it was something down there," said Catherine Karnow, a neighbor who lives across the narrow and winding street from the fire scene.

Firefighters said crews arrived at the two-alarm blaze in nine minutes. Upon arrival, flames could be seen shooting from a side window and the back of the house. Investigators said a man, living in a front bedroom, tried to rescue the elderly woman trapped by flames in the rear bedroom, but couldn't. He escaped out the front door along with three dogs.

Firefighters said she died before they reached her, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Marin Valley Fire Protection Fire District Battalion Chief Travis Fox said he was aware that "several dogs" were trapped in the residence and that the woman was pronounced dead on scene. 

An investigation is underway to determine how the fire started. Investigators said an open flame may be to blame, but the official cause is still unknown.

"People can learn by obviously not burning candles inside their house, or controlling open flames," said Barnes.

Neighbors were shaken by the loss of life as the Labor Day holiday weekend was drawing to a close.         

"We are always worried about fire. Most of us are assuming it’s wildfire," said Karnow. "So this is not something that we normally worry about, which is a house fire."

Investigators said there were smoke detectors inside the house, but they’re checking to see if they were working at the time of the fire. The name of the victim and exact cause of death are being withheld until her family is notified.