Benicia Couple in Critical Condition After Early Morning House Fire

A couple found in the back bedroom of a burning home in Benicia early this morning have been taken to a hospital in critical condition, the fire chief said.

The one-alarm fire was reported at 2:06 a.m. after a newspaper delivery person smelled smoke and saw that it was coming from a house in the 300 block of Larkin Drive, Benicia Fire Chief Jim Lydon said.

Crews arrived to find light smoke showing a around the home and forced entry into the residence. "Once inside, we conducted a search and we located two victims down in the back bedroom," Lydon said. They were removed from the home and treated at the scene, then transported to Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center, he said.

The residents' dog was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation then taken to a veterinary hospital, Lydon said.

The fire caused extensive damage to the living room and kitchen areas, and there was heat and smoke damage throughout the home, the chief said.

Lydon said the home was equipped with smoke detectors but it's not clear whether they were operational.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.