MILLCREEK — Seven people, including four children, escaped their home without injury Monday night following a two-alarm fire.
About 11:30 p.m., a woman got out of bed to use the bathroom. While she was up, she smelled smoke, said Unified Fire Authority Capt. Clint Smith. The woman quickly awoke the two other adults in the home at 4108 S. 900 East and got the four children, ranging in age from 1 to 7, all out of the house.
When they went to investigate what was burning, they opened the door leading to the basement apartment and found a wall of fire, Smith said.
Responding fire crews needed about 30 minutes to extinguish the flames. One challenge for firefighters was that the stairwell leading to the basement burned quickly, he said.
The cause of the fire was determined to be an unattended candle burning in the basement, according to the captain. Damage was estimated at $100,000, with heavy fire and smoke damage throughout the interior.
One woman was treated for minor smoke inhalation but was not transported to the hospital.
"They were very fortunate," Smith said. "I'm not aware of any smoke detectors in the home."
— Lana Groves, Pat Reavy