West Des Moines Fire Emphasizes Important Message: Smoke Detectors Save Lives

West Des Moines firefighters said a fire at Valley Junction residence could have been much worse if not for a working smoke alarm. The home was one canvassed last month by the fire department in a smoke-alarm battery giveaway sponsored by Energizer Corp.

Fire erupted at the home at 529 Ninth St. about 2:35 a.m. today near the furnace.

Fire officials installed fresh batteries in the first-floor smoke alarm in the Oct. 31 giveaway. The homeowner awoke to the activated alarm this morning, went downstairs and found smoke coming from the kitchen, Fire Marshal Mike Whitsell said in a news release.

Smoke was visible outside the house and flames were visible inside the windows when firefighters arrived, according to the release. The fire was brought under control within 15 minutes and no injuries were reported. The three occupants of the home and their two dogs got out safely.

Whitsell said the cause of fire is still under investigation.

He said that had it not been for working smoke detectors, the outcome could have been much different.

When firefighters visited the home on Oct. 31, the owner said he didn’t need new batteries as he had already changed them as part of his normal routine and because of media coverage on changing smoke detector batteries with the fall time change.

The homeowner’s proactive response to maintaining his smoke detectors was the difference in this incident,” Whitsell said. “Working smoke detectors do save lives and the West Des Moines Fire Department would like to remind everyone to periodically test their smoke detectors and change the batteries inside them at least twice a year.”