A single resident and her two dogs escaped injury from a Dec. 10 fire, thanks at least in part to a working smoke detector.
The Independence Township Fire Department was dispatched to Pinedale Drive at about 7:23 a.m., according to Fire Marshal Greg Olrich. Crews found smoke coming from the building, then discovered a fire in the laundry room area.
The fire appeared to be caused by combustibles too close to the water heater, Olrich said. While the fire was brought under control by about 7:50 a.m., an insurance representative estimated about $70,000 damage to the home, Olrich said.
Fire damage was evident in the laundry room area, the attic and the roof, with smoke damage throughout the home. Firefighters had to open a hole in the roof to vent smoke.
Olrich credited neighbors for their fast response in helping the resident after the fire.
‘It was very nice to see the close neighborhood and the outpouring of kindness,? he said.