Westminster Family Lucky To Be Alive After Smoke Alarms Fail To Go Off

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) - Firefighters in Westminster are trying to figure out what started a fire that destroyed a home Saturday night.

The fire broke out in a recreation room of the home in the 9700 block of Carr Circle just after 7 p.m. Firefighters say the second story ceiling in the recreation room collapsed.

"A crew was fighting the fire when they heard a loud boom and crash. The Westminster firefighters safely vacated the house thinking the roof collapsed while other crews attacked the fire from the rear of the house," the fire department said in a statement.

All four people inside the home escaped without injury. One firefighter suffered minor burns.

"A dog, cat and four lizards were also located and safely evacuated."

The residents said the smoke alarms failed to go off but they heard a noise and were able to get out.

The damages are estimated at approximately $200,000.

One day after the family was forced to live in a motel, a neighbor went house to house looking for donations, "They need food and clothing right now," said Sandy Gilliland.

A grandmother, mother, and two small children were inside the home when the fire started, and the grandfather and father were at an Avalanche game.

The "occupants, from the reports from them, did not hear any smoke detectors going off in the home, rather, they heard other noises and some neighbors that alerted them," said Jeromy Hill, Westminster Firefighter.

"I just saw an orange light out our back door," said neighbor Gilliland.

Next weekend, when clocks move ahead one hour, fire departments will remind residents to make sure smoke detectors work and have fresh batteries.

Additional Information From The Westminster Fire Department

It's imperative to have working smoke alarms in your home. Next weekend is a great time to "change your clocks, change your batteries" and replace all the batteries in both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as well as test the alarms.