Smoke alarm credited with preventing injuries and more damage at Normal apartment

Posted on December 15, 2016

A fire at a Normal apartment was quickly extinguished after residents were alerted by a smoke alarm. (Photo Facebook/Normal Fire Department)

By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – Normal firefighters credit a smoke alarm with alerting residents of an apartment of a fire that began just outside the front door.

The department says the three occupants left the East Locust Street apartment after hearing the alarm just before 8:30 last night. Firefighters found a small fire on the building’s exterior that was spreading into the wall and door frame which was quickly extinguished.

The residents were expected to be able to return today after repairs were made to the damage estimated at $3,000.

Normal Fire Department Public Information Officer Matt Swaney credits the alarm with alerting the residents, who were in the basement and second floor, and preventing them from being trapped.

Investigators say improperly discarded smoking materials started the fire. No one was injured.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

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