Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Child hears alarm, family able to escape unharmed
A township family can attest to the value of smoke detectors - they are is safe after an overnight house fire when a child was awakened by the sound of the alarm and alerted first-responders.
East Brandywine Fire Company firefighters were dispatched at 3 a.m. Thursday for a report of a house fire in the 400 block of Creek Road. Upon arrival, all five residents had safely exited the home, according to firefighters.
East Brandywine Assistant Fire Chief Vincent D’Amico said that the smoke alarms detected the fire, and one of the young residents woke up to the alarm sounding. Firefighters said that they believe this young boy then woke up his family who called 911 to report the fire.
Two-thirds of home fire deaths
result from fires in homes without a working smoking alarm, according to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). The NFPA reports that working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half.
D’Amico said the cause of the basement fire is still under investigation. He said that it was a room and contents fire in the basement with minimum damage. No
injuries were reported.
The fire was under control in about 15 to 20 minutes, according to D’Amico.
“The first-in engine company did a really good job,” D’Amico said about the East Brandywine firefighters. “They did a tremendous job with the conditions they were faced with – an early morning and a basement fire – and held it to minimal damage in a short amount of time.”
One of the East Brandywine chiefs shut a bedroom door when they arrived and entered the home, which
D’Amico said helped prevent the home from more potential damage.
D’Amico said the family was able to take a few belongings with them as they plan to stay with relatives for the time being.
Glen Moore Fire Company, Downingtown Fire Department, Thorndale Fire Company and Lionville Fire Company assisted East Brandywine with Honey Brook Fire Company on standby coverage. Minquas Ambulance also responded.