Smoke alarm alerts family to fire in house Friday morning
Published on -11/22/2009, 8:19 PM
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By The Hays Daiiy News
A fire Friday morning in Hays could have ended badly were it not for the smoke alarm, according to the Hays Fire Department.
Firefighters were dispatched to a fire at a house in the 1200 block of Maple at approximately 9 a.m.
Capt. Justin Kilian said the likely cause was a 4-year-old in the house playing with fire while the three adult occupants of the house were sleeping.
A broom burning in the kitchen set off the smoke detector and woke the adults. The child had hidden under a bed in a back bedroom, Kilian said.
"That's pretty common, even if they aren't the cause," of the fire, he said.
"If that alarm wouldn't have woken them up, it would have escalated pretty fast," Kilian said.
The adults probably would have made it out of the house, but the child would have been difficult to find had the fire grown, Kilian said.
"This could have been major damage and possibly the loss of a child," he said.
One of the adults went after the flames with a fire extinguisher, while another called 911.
The Hays Fire Department can assist residents with installing or replacing batteries in smoke alarms. The fire department also can provide residents with free smoke alarms, and Kilian said those should be available after the first of the year.
you either have no kids, or keep them locked up 24/7, or only 21 years old and... us boomers were taught things, right and wrong from scratch from the beginnin. i knew facts when i was 4. farm life taught life...
(Posted by: catt9)
are you serious: 11/23/2009
Curious was suggesting that these parents could do a better job and you are criticizing this person. I think that these parents need to be investigated. It's Friday at 9 am. Get your @$$ out of bed! It's parenting 101 keep matches and other hazardous out of reach of young children. I feel sorry for your children. And you are the one saying grow up. Interesting.
(Posted by: interesting)
to curious:: 11/23/2009
and just how many kids do you have in your house? are they locked in their rooms 24/7? do you keep them on a leash? grow up and welcome to the real world..
(Posted by: catt9)
Why?: 11/22/2009
To Curious, Why? Because everyone is not perfect like you. Your question was obvious and insulting. The answer is just "real".
(Posted by: Reality)
Why a 4 yo unsupervised?: 11/22/2009
I have to wonder WHY a 4 yr old was up unsupervised in the first place and also why were either matches/lighter/ fire source available to this 4 yr old?This could have been a horrible tragedy!The adults in that house need to make better sleeping arrangements to be sure! Also this should be a wakeup call to anyone with kids~ they should NOT be unsupervised at ANY time and they DO find things to get into that they should not- i.e., matches/lighter/whatever fire source- which could be a gas stove- parents/adults pls be more responsible!! For the sake of all! Kids and adults!
(Posted by: curious)
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