Home Safety Plan Saves N.Y. Family

This Fire Prevention Week, one Delaware County fire chief had reason to celebrate, he said Thursday night.

A house fire that took place at 3 a.m. Thursday had a happy ending and was “the perfect example of how fire prevention efforts can really work," according to Dave Briggs, chief of the East Branch Volunteer Fire Department.

The early morning blaze broke out at 140 High Point Spur off state Route 23, Briggs said, halfway between Davenport Center and Davenport. The house belongs to the Jones family, he said.

When fire crews from East Meredith and Davenport arrived at the home, the five members of the family and their dog were waiting on the front lawn at a designated meeting place they had previously picked in case of emergency, Briggs said.

According to Briggs, the fire had started in the dryer, located in the family's bathroom. Within a few minutes, fire crews had the flames knocked down and were able to confine the blaze to the bathroom, he said. Crews were back in service at their stations by 5 a.m.

The smoke alarm had alerted the family of the fire, according to Briggs, allowing them to get out in time without being injured. There was minimal smoke damage in the rest of the house, but Briggs said he believes the family has insurance.

Later that day, Briggs and his crew were at Charlotte Valley Central School giving a safety presentation in recognition of Fire Prevention Week, he said. The well-being of the Jones family, he reflected, proves that these types of presentations are "definitely worth our while."

“It was the perfect scenario,” Briggs said. “It's funny how we teach people to know their escape route, have a meeting place and keep your smoke detectors in prime condition. This family did all of that and everything worked wonderfully. This was just the perfect example of what we teach."

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©2015 The Daily Star (Oneonta, N.Y.)

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