CLEARLAKE OAKS — A properly operating smoke detector alerted a family to a fire in its home on Flying Jib Court early Tuesday morning, according to Pat Brown, deputy chief for the Northshore Fire Protection District (NFPD).
The device activated around 5:35 a.m. because of smoke in the family room, which was caused by a fire that started on the rear wood deck and spread to an exterior wall, Brown said.
The occupants reportedly used a fire extinguisher to knock down the flames and called 9-1-1.
The NFPD responded with two engines and a duty chief out of the Clearlake Oaks station, Brown said.
Crewmembers from the first engine used their thermal-imaging camera and found an active fire on the outer wall, and then utilized a chainsaw and pry bars to open up the wall, Brown said.
There was an estimated $6,000 of damage to the deck area and a section of wall, Brown said. The fire remains under investigation.
Brown reminded Lake County residents to check their smoke detectors at least twice a year. “This operating smoke detector saved this family and reduced damage to their home,” he said.
