Elderly, Wheelchair-Bound Woman Dies in Hayward House Fire

An elderly woman was killed in a Hayward house fire this morning, a fire captain said.
 
Firefighters responded to a report of the fire in the 24800 block of Townsend Avenue shortly before 1 a.m., Capt. Don Nichelson said. A husband and wife discovered the fire in the husband's bedroom and tried to put out the blaze without success, he said.
 
The couple escaped the home but the woman's wheelchair-bound aunt was still inside, Nichelson said. Fire crews were able to rescue the elderly woman out of the home and tried to resuscitate her but she was pronounced dead at the scene, he said. The blaze was under control around 1:10 a.m., Nichelson said.
 
The man was transported to a hospital for chest pains while the woman did not suffer any injuries, according to Nichelson. Two cats and two birds died in the fire, he said.
 
Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire, which may have been caused by an electrical issue, Nichelson said.

—By Bay City News