[Post removed due to disrespectful comment]

Making a joke about 2 Mountain View residents who died, possibly poisoned by a gas leak? Really?

My sympathies to the families of the deceased and thanks to MVPD and MVFD for their efficient handling of this sad emergency.

There was a suicide note.

The tv stations are reporting a suicide note.

Thank you Voice for removing the sick comments by Dr DeKaplani

First, I am very sorry to hear about the loss of life.

Unfortunately, I do have to say I am extremely disappointed in how this was handled by the Mountain View Police and Fire Departments. I live directly across from the unit where the deaths occurred.

At @ 6:10 last evening, a police officer knocked on my door and simply directed me to evacuate. While outside, there were many fire trucks, and police, and lots of confusion. One police officer directed me to move to the next building, 2035 California Street. Once there, another police officer directed me back to 2025 California Street. (He then learned the correct "information", and said there was a "gas" leak. I explained that our building doesn't use gas --except maybe for water heaters). They explained there were "dangerous fumes" and we had to stay away from area.

After several hours of misinformation, we were told that we would likely not be allowed back into building overnight. At 6:00 am, I was told by the MV emergency dispatcher it would likely be 8:00 am before being allowed back into building. At 8:15, I returned to my unit to find a large piece of plywood nailed to the entrance of my unit, along with a pamphlet describing what to do in case of a FIRE (THERE WAS NO FIRE!!).

Thankfully, the contractor who had been contacted by the fire department to "secure" access to the unit was still there. He had a bit of difficulty removing the plywood, but was able to remove it for me.

My door had been BASHED in,The door is cracked, the jamb and lock broken. Was this necessary? Could they have asked me to leave door unlocked? Could they have asked us to congregate at a location until they had more information?

I have been here on site since 8:15 am: there has not been a single police officer or fire person on site to answer questions. Are they really concerned about our safety?? Tell us what the fumes were? What should we be doing? Calling the "information number" places you into voice mail, with no call backs. When I finally was able to speak with Shino, she was extremely condescending, and expected me to "patient" while she explained nothing.

The most helpful person I spoke with was Chandry, a SECRETARY at the Fire Department who confirmed that it safe for us to be here, and said it is still "under investigation".

PLEASE: In the future: Have SOMEONE on site to answer questions, or type up a document and post it on our doors.

I've been displaced from my home for more than twelve hours, had no electricity until 11:00 am, I have no way to secure my front door, we've been PATIENT we'd like someone to tell us what happened.


Update:

At 12:45, we get a letter from Battalion Chief Dennis Custodio...beginning with "Some concerns were brought to my attention...." REALLY???

Oh dear! What a mess! On every level it seems except no additional victims other than the 2 found in what appears to be the problem source apt.

So many questions. Hope we get careful accurate info soon devoid of speculations and devoid of the "1st is best" habit so common in news media today.

Paula, that's unbelievable. Good luck to you.

So Paula, your frustration is understandable, but rather one-sided. In the urgency and confusion of that sort of situation -- is there a toxic threat, is there an imminent possibility of an explosion and fire? -- you seem to think that the available personnel should slow down, wait until they have all the facts, and then handhold perhaps hundreds of people who could be in danger? A lot of innocent people could have died. Sure, some of what happened bears criticism, and no doubt there will be some critical evaluations of what could have been done better. However, if you had been told to leave your door unlocked (as if it was clear what would need to to be done later when they were trying to get people to safety NOW) before the building was secured, and someone stole things, would that have been the right approach? If rapid access for inspection resulted in a door being forced, would you rather that no plywood was put up to secure that entrance? If a fire did bust loose later in the situation, and there were no notice or instructions? Etc., etc. Please try to understand that your problems, while unfortunate, are not THE problem in this sort of public emergency situation. Give public relations a chance to catch up with the matter.

Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?

Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?

Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?

I don't believe this was a suicide involving two people unless it was a Romeo and Juliet type ish. There's more to this story. Please update.

@JeffM:

Wow...were you a first responder at the scene or something? Are you the Fire or Police Chief in disguise. You showed no empathy --or sympathy for that matter to @Paula for what she experienced. :( Dude, she was DISPLACED from her home for nearly 12-hours. Not only that, when she was first DISPLACED to another location, she was ORDERED back by a different police officer!

And for you to berate her on here is dispicable. I didn't read in her Post where she should come first; however, I did read where she finally came home and found her door torn off...without an explanation (I'm sorry, the incorrect explanation).

@Paula...and all of the others who were displaced, you are owed an explanation and an apology. I'm sure this isn't the first *gas leak* that the FD or PD have responded to (sure in this case it turned out to be deceased persons, but the initial response was for a gas leak).

@JeffM, have some empathy...you know, put yourself in @paula's shoes. You said, "Give public relations a chance to catch up with the matter." Im sorry, but with all the tweeting, my neighborhood, facebooking, nixle, rblock, and other social media means at the PDs and FDs disposal, they should have done, have done, and can do better!

Jus' sayin...

The editor needs to change the headline to..."How the deaths of two people totally inconvenienced myself and others and let's criticize the emergency agencies dealing with it..." or..."How I managed to turn this around to focus on my insignificant little life..." 2 people died here!