Cottleville Fire District officials are crediting working smoke detectors for saving the lives of five people who were sleeping when a fire started in their garage.
The Cottleville Fire Protection District responded to the reported fire in the early morning on Thursday at 70 Madeira Court in the Vineyards Subdivision in unincorporated area of St. Charles County.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire and smoke visible from the garage and roof of the residence. Firefighters were able to contain the heavy flames to the area involved, however smoke and water damage was throughout the residence.
The five residents, including their 2 year old, had all made it out safely after they were awakened by the smoke detectors. The Cottleville Fire Protection District would like to reinforce the importance of having working smoke detectors.
The presence of operating smoke detectors in this incident assuredly saved their lives. Cottleville Fire officials are advising residents to test their smoke detectors and CO detectors each month to ensure proper function.
The Cottleville Fire Protection District would like to remind their residences that they will provide free of charge, the installation and replacement of battery operated smoke detectors and/or the batteries for our resident families that cannot afford to purchase them.
The total loss and cause of the fire is unknown at this time.