CLAYPOOL - A Yellow Creek Lake family learned the importance of having working smoke alarms early this morning.
Carol Smith and her adult daughter, Sherri Clark, were awakened to the distinctive sound of a smoke alarm in their home shortly after midnight today.The blaze was reported as a chimney fire to the Kosciusko County Dispatch Center around 12:35 a.m., and the Seward Township/Burket Fire Department was sent to the home at 6277 W. Dusty Road, on the north bank of Yellow Creek Lake.
According to Kevin McSherry, fire chief, when firefighters arrived around 12:40 a.m., the fire had extended into the south wall of the wood-frame single-story residence. The fire started in a chimney about halfway between the home's two bedrooms.
The first firefighter on the scene said the smoke from the blaze already was halfway to the floor. The fire was under control by about 12:59 a.m.
When Smith and Clark reported the fire, dispatchers told them to leave the home and get to safety. By the time firefighters arrived, they were informed that the women had left the residence.
McSherry said the smoke alarm probably saved the women's lives, and said that this is a good time of year for people to check the batteries and make sure all smoke alarms are working in their homes.
