Jan. 03--ST. LOUIS --A smoke detector was being credited Friday with helping a man escape in time from his burning home in the 4100 block of East Carter Avenue.
Battalion Chief James Wedemeier of the St. Louis Fire Department said the man got out on his own after hearing the detector's alarm sounding before dawn Friday morning. The one-alarm fire started in the basement and spread to the first and second floors.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
In another house fire early Friday, a family of three was displaced after flames leveled their home in Hillsboro. A neighbor called to report the fire at about 3:15 a.m. in the 8700 block of Cedar Drive.
The single-story home was engulfed in flames when crews arrived, and the roof was collapsing, said Fire Chief David Scott of the Hillsboro Fire Protection District.
A man and his two children were not at home when the fire broke out. The cause is under investigation.
Firefighters from several agencies came to help with the two-alarm fire. They included Antonia, DeSoto, Dunklin, High Ridge, Mapaville, and Goldman. Scott wanted that many firefighters to help because of the frigid cold. Crews took breaks every 15 minutes or so to warm up.
Copyright 2014 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
