Smoke Detector, Quick Thinking Reduces House Fire Damage

A working smoke detector made all the difference in a house fire early Sunday according to the firefighters who fought the blaze.

Firefighters from District 5 units were dispatched to a fire on the 9800 block of Branch Road around 4:45 a.m. They say the fire was confined to one bedroom, the smoke detector was sounding when they arrived. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the bedroom, attacking it from the outside of the home, then safely finishing to extinguish the fire from the inside.

The fire was started by a space heater that was left on and unattended in the room according to officials. Two young adults were in the home at the time of the fire. Firefighters say the kids woke up to the sound of the smoke detector alarm, went to the bedroom and saw the bed on fire, quickly closed the door, went outside and called 911.

Fire authorities say the early warning of the working smoke detectors and the quick thinking on the occupants' part to not leave the door open to the fire room, saved themselves and the home from disaster.