Working smoke alarms alerted an Auburn family to an early morning fire on New Year’s Day, most likely saving their lives.

At approximately 4:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day, neighbors saw flames coming from a home on G St. SE in Auburn and called 9-1-1. Firefighters from VRFA, South King Fire and Rescue, and Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority responded, finding the front of the home in flames. A father and his two sons had safely evacuated, thanks to a warning from their smoke alarms.

VRFA fire investigators say the fire began on the porch of the 3,400 square foot home. The porch shared a wall and a window with the bedroom of a six-year-old boy.

“The fire extended from the porch into the home by breaching the boy’s bedroom window. If not for the smoke alarms alerting the father, we could have had a tragic outcome,” said Deputy Fire Marshal John Monsebroten.

The home sustained approximately $200,000 in damage to the structure and $80,000 in contents. The cause of the fire is undetermined, though most probably originated in a plastic trash bag located on the front porch. The contents of the bag included discarded smoking materials, spent fireworks, an aerosol can, and other combustible materials.

The American Red Cross assisted the family of three with immediate needs.

The VRFA reminds everyone to check their smoke alarms, practice a family fire escape plan, and dispose of smoking materials and spent fireworks in a closed metal container after thoroughly soaking them in water.