Cluttered Home Delayed Rescue Efforts In Fatal Berkeley Fire

BERKELEY (CBS-SF) -- A 78-year-old Berkeley man was killed at his home early Sunday morning in a fire in which firefighters were delayed in trying to rescue him because he had stored so many items that they couldn't enter his front door, a fire spokeswoman said.

The blaze at Billy Carroll's home in the 2800 block of Acton Street, between Oregon and Russell streets, was reported at 4:47 a.m. Sunday, according to Berkeley Interim Deputy Fire Chief Donna McCracken.

Flames were shooting out of the home's windows and there was a well-developed fire when firefighters arrived a short time later.

Firefighters evacuated the homes next to Carroll's and then went into "rescue mode" with the intent of finding and removing any victims inside his home, but it was filled with so many storage items that they couldn't enter his front door.

Firefighters eventually found another point of entry, but by the time they found Carroll in the center hallway he was already dead, McCracken said.

It's possible that Carroll had already died before firefighters arrived at his home, but the delay in finding him decreased the chance of saving him, she said.

The fire was under control by 5:54 a.m. and the homes next to Carroll's weren't damaged.

The fire started near the home's floor furnace but investigators don't yet know what caused it, McCracken said.

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