OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP, MI - Smoke detectors were being credited this morning with saving the lives of a boyfriend and girlfriend who jumped from a second-floor window to escape a fire at their townhome just west of Kalamazoo, authorities said.
Oshtemo Township firefighters, who were called to Copper Beech Townhomes on West KL Avenue at 2:22 a.m. Thursday, found the couple had made it out safely when they arrived on scene, Fire Chief Mark Barnes said.
"They're alive today because that smoke detector woke them up," Barnes said.
Barnes said the two-story residence was filled with dense black smoke when firefighters arrived.
The blaze, which appears to have started in the first-floor living room, was brought under control in about 30 minutes, he said.
Barnes said the couple were sleeping early Thursday when the boyfriend was awakened by a smoke detector.
When he opened the door to the bedroom where they were sleeping and saw smoke coming up a staircase and a bright light on the first floor. The man woke up his girlfriend and the two jumped from a second-story window onto a ground-floor balcony.
"The story is their lives were saved last night by the smoke detectors," Barnes said. "For those who don't have them, contact your local fire department. For those who can't afford them, we have ways of helping."
Barnes said no serious injuries were reported in the fire, although the woman did suffer some bruising from the jump from the window and was treated at the scene.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation this morning, he said. |
