Smoke alarms help family of four and dog escape unharmed before Cape Coral house fire destroys home

Carson ZornCAPE CORAL, Fla. —

A Cape Coral home is a total loss after firefighters responded to the scene of a house fire Tuesday morning.

According to the Cape Coral Fire Department, crews responded to a residential structure fire in the 2200 block of Southeast 15th Street at around 4:15 a.m.

When firefighters arrived, they found flames coming through the roof of the home. Crews quickly extinguished the blaze, preventing it from spreading beyond the area around the garage.

CCFD said that two adults, two children, and their dog were able to safely escape thanks to working fire alarms that alerted them to the blaze. However, due to the extent of the damage, the house is considered a total loss.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire likely started in a shed outside the home before spreading to the attic, CCFD said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

CCFD said that while the family suffered a devastating loss, the outcome would have been worse without working smoke alarms.

“This incident is a powerful reminder to install smoke alarms on every level of your home and inside and outside every sleeping area,” CCFD said. “Test them monthly, replace the batteries as needed, and replace the alarms according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Working smoke alarms save lives.”

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