Crime & Safety

Arson Suspected In Fire Where Woman Found Dead

Authorities say 'accelerant' may have been used in a blaze in Castro Valley that claimed the life of one woman.

 

Updated 11:20 am

Bay City News -- Alameda County officials said an early morning fire in Castro Valley has been deemed suspicious in nature. A woman's body was found inside the single-family home in the 2400 block of San Carlos Avenue where the one-alarm blaze occurred.

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Alameda County Sheriff's Department spokesman Sgt. J.D. Nelson said there is evidence that a possible ''accelerant'' was used in the fire.

Nelson said any time there is indication of an accelerant ''that'll be automatically suspicious.''

Find out what's happening in Castro Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He said the body found is that of a woman. Police are trying to another person who lived in the home.

The fire was reported to the Alameda County Fire Department at 12:15 a.m. and was brought under control within 20 minutes, fire officials said. 

Firefighters found the woman's body inside the home while fighting the blaze. 

As of 8:30 a.m., Nelson said there was no other known trauma on the body.

No one else was in the house when firefighters arrived at the scene and no injuries were reported, fire officials said. 

Nelson said investigators are getting a search warrant to further investigate the home.        

"We're going to pull out all the stops," Nelson said. "If this was a homicide, we have the upper hand on it."

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