Home Fire on California Street Displaces Family

A smoke detector alarm pierced the quiet night and helped three people escape their burning house, the Mountain Fire Department reported today.

According to MVFD Spokewoman Jaime Garrett, this morning dispatch received a call 9-1-1 at 4:20 a.m., from a resident of the burning single family home on the 600 block of California Street. 

"It is important to note that residents of this fire were awakened by the sound of working smoke detectors, allowing them the time necessary to safely evacuate their home," said Garrett. " Each year, nearly 3,000 people die in U.S. home fires and having working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a reported fire in half."

The one alarm fire's smoke and flames greeted firefighters upon arrival and they quickly worked to ensure occupants of the home had been evacuated and to extinguish the fire.  One resident did require transport to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries from the fire.  Three fire engines, one fire truck, a fire rescues and the battalion chief responded. No firefighter was injured.

The Red Cross responded to assist the displaced residents, Garrett said. Investigators have arrived on scene to determine the cause and origin of the fire, and to determine a damage estimate for the residence, according to Garrett.

For more information about smoke alarms and how they should be installed, please visit the NFPA's website at www.nfpa.org.