Two people died and one person escaped in a two-alarm fire at a townhouse in Walnut Creek early Monday, according to Contra Costa Fire officials.
The fire broke out in the 1900 block of Countrywood Court at the Countrywood Townhomes, according to fire officials.
The fire spread to adjacent homes and was contained to three units, fire officials said. The person who managed to get out of the house was treated at the scene.
Fire officials later identified the victims only as an elderly woman and her adult son. They said the lone survivor was the woman's husband, but he isn't the father of the woman's son.
The cause of the fire was determined to be discarded smoking material near a hospital-type bed, with oxygen tanks nearby, fire officials said.
"We got reports from neighbors that they heard explosions, then they came out and saw the fire, and we were already on our way," said Battalion Chief Kevin Platt of the Contra Costa County Fire District.
The victims' identities will be released after family has been notified, officials said.
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