Family escapes house fire; firefighter taken to hospital

A Euclid firefighter is in stable condition after being taken to the hospital Nov. 2 from the scene of a morning house fire.

A family of three, including an infant girl, awoke to a power outage and the odor of smoke in the home at 340 Walworth Drive, according to a news release from the department. Euclid firefighters were dispatched at 1:47 a.m.

The family was able to escape unharmed as their smoke alarms began to sound and the smoke increased.

When firefighter arrived, heavy smoke was coming from the twostory home, according to the release. They found flames in the basement extending into the first floor bedroom where the baby was asleep minutes earlier.

Fire damage was limited to the bedroom and the basement below. One cat was rescued, but a second could not be located.

Sixteen Euclid firefighters were on scene, including one who was taken to Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital for a medical emergency.

The fire was ruled accidental and originated in the area of an electric panel, according to the release. Damage is estimated at $35,000.

The department stressed the importance of having working smoking alarms in the home, as was the case in this fire. They also offered a reminder to change fire alarm batteries this weekend when moving back the clocks. Fire alarms more than 10 years old should be replaced, the department stated.