Davis Fire Department officials say a working smoke alarm helped six people escape from their East Davis home where a fire broke out early Friday morning.
“It probably saved their lives,” Division Chief Joe Tenney said of the young adults who were alerted to the blaze, which broke near the front door of the 1816 Pomona Dr. home at about 2 a.m.
Tenney said fire crews were just wrapping up a medical-aid call on J Street when the fire was reported. Although they arrived on scene quickly, “by the time they got there half the house was involved by fire,” he said.
Blocked by flames from using the front door, the occupants fled the house through a garage side door. None of them was injured, although a pet cat died of apparent smoke inhalation inside one of the bedrooms, Tenney said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Tenney said it does not appear to be suspicious in nature. The Red Cross is assisting the residents with housing and other needs while they are displaced.
Crews cleared the scene at about 5 a.m., only to be called out to assist with another structure fire at an unoccupied house on Sixth Street in Woodland, Tenney said. West Sacramento and Dixon firefighters provided station coverage in Davis during that incident.