Working smoke alarms installed by the St. Thomas Fire Department helped a woman get out of a recent house fire. Fire crews responded to 83 Hughes Street on Friday (July 5) where they found the main floor involved in a working fire.
Crews were called after a CMHA worker attending the house heard the smoke alarms going off when walking onto the property to meet with the female homeowner.
The fire department and the City’s building department has been dealing with the home for some time for hoarding and untidy property matters which is when they installed the smoke alarms.
Chief Fire Prevention Officer Bill Todd says that the woman was assisted out of the home by the worker and was in the backyard when they arrived.
Todd says that this shows the importance of having a working smoke alarm.
Todd says that the woman was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and a burn on her leg where he believes she remains on unrelated issues.
Todd says that the house is not yet livable and the cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.
