Smoke Alarm Saves Lives of River Hills Resident in Wednesday Fire

RIVER HILLS, WI — The use of a smoke alarm saved the life of a River Hills resident on Wednesday after improperly-disposed smoking materials caused a structure fire at a home in River Hills.

According to the North Shore Fire Department, at approximately 4:54 p.m., the Bayside Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from the resident at 695 W. Calumet Road in River Hills reporting a fire on the second floor of his home.

River Hills Police Department and North Shore Fire/Rescue crews were dispatched immediately.

On arrival, crews found heavy smoke coming from one side of the structure. They quickly confirmed all occupants of the home had evacuated safely and then initiated an aggressive interior attack on a fire in a second floor bedroom.

They quickly brought the fire under control. During the initial search of the home, crews located and safely rescued a pet cat. The cat appeared to be unharmed and was turned over to the residents. There were no injuries to the two occupants who were home at the time of the fire, or to any of the emergency personnel operating at the scene.

Fire damage was confined to a second floor bedroom, the room of origin; however there is extensive smoke and water damage to much of the second floor of the home. The first floor remained relatively unscathed.

The preliminary damage estimate to the structure and contents is $25,000. Investigation in partnership with the River Hills Police Department, revealed that the probable cause of the fire was the unsafe disposal of smoking materials. It appears that smoking materials were disposed into a plastic garbage can in the upstairs bedroom, likely sparking the fire.

The resident who found the fire was sleeping and was alerted by the sound of their upstairs smoke alarm.

North Shore Fire/Rescue was assisted by several mutual aid units from neighboring departments. Additional resources were requested to assist with a water-shuttle operation using water tender trucks; as the area of this fire does not have municipal fire hydrants.

>>> Image via North Shore Fire Department/Facebook