East Bay Fire Leaves Three Homeless

NEWARK, Calif. (KCBS)_ Firefighters in the East Bay are now searching for the cause of an early morning house fire in Newark that has left three people homeless.

The fire was first reported around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday at a home on Mirabeau Drive.

Alameda County Fire Department spokeswoman Aisha Knowles says two adults and a toddler were asleep when the fire broke out.

"Fortunately the family was able to exit the house safely in advance of the firefighters, but we did find that one of the smoke detectors in the home did not have a battery in it," says Knowles.

Firefighters evacuated two adjacent homes as a precaution, but the blaze was prevented from spreading and declared under control in about 15 minutes. The nearby residents have since been able to return home.

The Red Cross is now helping find shelter for those three fire victims.

No injuries were reported and an investigation as to the cause is underway.