Smoke detectors alert family to fire, all escape safely

A fire marshal publicized the incident because he found it a success story, despite the damage to the Madison Avenue home.

HAMILTON - A family of five escaped their burning Hamilton home Sunday night after a smoke detector sounded, sending the father in search of fire.

He found it, burning in his clothes closet.

The parents dialed 911, rounded up their three children, ages 8, 5 and 3, "and out the door they went," Hamilton District 7 Fire Marshal Scott McCormick said.

The Mercerville Fire Co. / Fire District 2 shown in a file photo. 

McCormick publicized the incident because he found it a success story, despite the damage to the Madison Avenue home in Mercerville.

"The smoke alarms did their job," McCormick said Monday.  Just before the blaze, the parents were on the first floor, watching television.

The fire, reported at about 11 p.m., badly damaged the parents' clothes closet and heat and smoke damaged their bedroom, McCormick said. The ceiling fan in the bedroom got so hot it dropped out of the ceiling, landing in a melted mess on the floor, he said.

And while the parents lost clothes, Hamilton firefighters were able to contain the fire to the second-floor bedroom, and no injuries occurred, McCormick said.

Without he smoke detectors, "It definitely could have been a lot worse," McCormick said.

McCormick's investigation found the mother had put clothes away in the closet about an hour before the fire. A light in the closet was left on and the fixture was very close to clothing, which started the fire.

The National Fire Protection Association in June announced this year's National Fire Prevention Week theme is, "Hear the beep where you sleep: every bedroom needs a working smoke alarm."

Fire prevention week is October 4 to 10.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.