Smoke Alarms Helped NJ Family Escape House Fire, Authorities Say

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — A family of four safely evacuated from a house fire in South Orange thanks to their smoke detectors, authorities say.

According to Mayor Sheena Collum, the fire took place early Wednesday morning on the 200-block of Prospect Street in the Academy Heights section of town.

“Thankfully, a family of four and their dog made it out safely because their smoke alarms alerted them in time,” Collum reported.

“It’s an important reminder for all of us to check our smoke detectors and make sure they’re working properly,” she said.

Collum said a firefighter from the South Essex Fire Department sustained minor burns while battling the blaze. However, he is doing “very well, she added.

The impacted family thanked firefighters and the South Orange Rescue Squad for their professionalism and compassion, Collum said.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the family recover from the fire.

The campaign also credits the smoke alarms with giving the family time to escape the house safely after the fire started in the basement – and quickly spread through the home.

“While we are incredibly grateful that no lives were lost, the road ahead will be long and difficult,” the fundraising campaign states. “The family has been displaced from their home and lost many personal belongings, and they are now facing immediate challenges related to temporary housing, essential necessities, and rebuilding their lives.”

Learn more or make a donation here.

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