Crime & Safety

‘The Father Is A Hero'; Oakland Man, 1-Year-Old Daughter Die In Horrific Arson Fire

Police said the family was the innocent victims of one of several retaliatory attacks related to a homicide a week ago.

OAKLAND (CBS SF) — An Oakland father, who brought his family to the San Francisco Bay Area to escape war-torn Yemen, died trying to rescue his 1-year-old daughter from an early morning arson fire and was being heralded as a hero Sunday by police and family members.

Find out what's happening in Piedmontfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Esam Musleh and his little daughter Alia Musleh died when a fire engulfed their 3-story house located right across from the front entrance of Bishop O’Dowd High School at 12:14 a.m. Saturday. His pregnant wife remains hospitalized with burns.

Esam Musleh worked as a clerk in a liquor store. The family had immigrated to the United States to escape war-torn Yemen.

Find out what's happening in Piedmontfor free with the latest updates from Patch.


CBS Local Digital Media personalizes the global reach of CBS-owned and operated television and radio stations with a local perspective.

More from Piedmont