Contents strewn along wet driveway following fire attack in residential home

PRESS RELEASE: Santa Clara County Fire Department Concludes Cause Investigation into Fatal Monte Sereno Fire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 8, 2026

Media Contact:
Erica Ray, Public Information Specialist
(408) 341-4444
publicinfo@sccfd.org

Campbell, CA – The Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD), in conjunction with the Santa Clara County Fire Investigation Taskforce, has completed its investigation into the origin and cause of yesterday’s fatal structure fire in Monte Sereno.

The incident occurred early Wednesday morning on the 17000 block of Rose Court, involving an 1,800-square-foot, two-story detached rear structure constructed in 1989. Investigators determined that the fire originated in the kitchen area on the second floor. The cause has been classified as accidental, though the specific ignition source could not be definitively determined.

Investigators verified that the residence did not have working smoke alarms, which served as a significant contributing factor in preventing the occupants from receiving an early warning.

“This was a tragic event that serves as a stark reminder of the importance of working smoke alarms,” said Assistant Chief Jeremy Davis, Fire Marshal for the Santa Clara County Fire Department. “The absence of working smoke alarms meant the occupants did not receive the critical early warning needed to escape safely.”

Additionally, officials highlighted that heavy interior clutter created severe access challenges for responding crews, delaying search and rescue operations and hindering exit paths.

“Yesterday we reported that firefighters faced significant challenges accessing the home and locating the residents inside,” Assistant Chief Davis added. “This leads us to another critical safety reminder—the importance of keeping exits, doorways, and hallways clear of clutter to protect both residents and emergency responders.”

The follow-up investigation will be handled by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department.

Essential Home Safety Reminders

In light of the findings, SCCFD urges all community members to implement the following life-saving precautions:

  • Install and Test Working Smoke Alarms: Ensure smoke alarms are installed on every level of your home, inside every bedroom, and outside all sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and replace batteries annually or whenever a low-battery chirp sounds.
  • Keep Access and Exit Paths Clear: Maintain clear pathways throughout your home, especially in hallways, stairways, doorways, and around windows. Clutter can block primary escape routes for occupants and delay emergency access for firefighters.
  • Know Two Ways Out: Identify two exit routes from every room in your home in case one is blocked by fire or smoke. For two-story homes, consider storing dedicated fire escape ladders in upper-level bedrooms.
  • Close Before You Doze: Keep bedroom doors closed while sleeping. A closed door acts as a barrier against smoke, heat, and flames, providing critical extra time to escape or await rescue.

About Santa Clara County Fire Department

The Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD) is an all-risk, all-hazard emergency response agency dedicated to protecting lives, property, and the environment. SCCFD provides fire suppression, Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergency medical response, hazardous materials mitigation, rescue services, fire prevention, and public education to nearly 225,000 residents across Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, San Martin, and surrounding unincorporated areas. For more information, visit www.sccfd.org. 

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