From staff reports
Burton Fire District officials credit smoke alarms and an alert landscaper as the reasons two residents are still living in their homes today.
The first emergency call occurred on Friday, July 28, on Castle Rock Road just before 9:30 p.m., when Burton firefighters responded to a report of an activated residential fire alarm. Fire crews arrived on scene and could immediately smell the odor of burning metal, and located the resident working in the rear of the home who was unaware of the alarm.
The resident let the firefighters into the home ,which was full of smoke, and located a burning pan on the stove. The fire had self-extinguished, but not before causing damages to the stove’s hood and cabinets. Firefighters set up fans to help remove smoke from the home and turned the livable home back over to the resident.
The second emergency call occurred Saturday, Aug. 5, just before 8:30 a.m., for a possible house fire on Leo Green Road in Burton after a landscaper working nearby investigated the sound of an activated smoke alarm a saw smoke coming from the home.
Firefighters responded to the scene and forced their way into the home, which was full of smoke, removed a burning frying pan from the stove, and then searched the residence finding no one home. Firefighters again set up fans to help remove smoke from the home. Damages were limited to the front door where firefighters utilized tools to enter, but were minor. The homeowner arrived on scene and the livable home was turned back over to the resident.
Burton fire officials state smoke alarms are not only important for alerting a family to a possible fire in their home so they can safely evacuate, but also early notification of a fire so emergency services can be summoned quicker and more property saved.
The Burton Fire District plans to recognize Dwain Garrett of Above Standard landscaping for his assistance in saving the home.
