Woman dies in duplex fire in Berkeley's Poet's Corner

Firefighters were unable to save the resident, who was in her 60s or 70s, as the blaze caused significant damage to the home.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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A woman in her 60s or 70s died in a duplex fire near Strawberry Creek Park in Berkeley's Poet's Corner neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters responded to the scene shortly before 4 p.m. after receiving 911 calls about the fire, but were unable to save the resident, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Why it matters

Deadly residential fires are a tragic occurrence, and this incident highlights the importance of fire safety and prevention efforts in the community. The Poet's Corner neighborhood is a historic area of Berkeley known for its literary ties, making this loss even more impactful.

The details

When firefighters arrived at 1301 Poe St., they found flames and smoke coming from three sides of the duplex building. They forced their way into one of the units and discovered the woman's body inside. The other unit in the building suffered mostly smoke damage, and its resident planned to stay with a friend. The woman who died was the tenant of the unit where the fire originated, and her landlord said the unit had been without electricity for months.

  • Firefighters were called shortly before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.
  • The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The players

Berkeley Fire Department

The local fire department that responded to the emergency call and attempted to rescue the resident.

Steve Moros

The landlord of the duplex where the fire occurred, who was working nearby in the Bancroft Community Garden when he heard about the incident.

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What they’re saying

“We were banging on the door saying, 'What's going on? Are you OK?' Smoke is pouring out the windows.”

— Steve Moros, Landlord (berkeleyside.org)

What’s next

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by local authorities.

The takeaway

This tragic fire serves as a somber reminder of the importance of fire safety and prevention, especially in older residential buildings. Community members and officials will likely examine ways to improve fire preparedness and response in the Poet's Corner neighborhood to help prevent such devastating losses in the future.