Smoke detector credited with saving lives of 3 Brainerd residents

BRAINERD — Occupants of a southeast Brainerd house awoke to a smoke alarm going off Thursday, Jan. 13, on the 1100 block of Pine Street.

The report states heavy smoke and flames could be seen coming from the home as the Brainerd Fire Department was called to the fire at 4:11 a.m.

“The smoke alarms saved their lives,” Brainerd Fire Chief Tim Holmes said. “If they didn’t have working smoke alarms, it would have been a very different story.”

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

The occupants, three adults, made it out of the building. A dog and cat were also in the house at the time of the fire. The dog succumbed to its injuries and the cat remains unaccounted for, Holmes said.

Firefighters got the fire under control shortly after arriving. Crews remained on the scene for about four hours to ensure the fire was out.

Severe damage occurred on both levels of the house, making it uninhabitable. The occupants of the house are staying with friends in town, Holmes said.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

The neighboring house sustained cosmetic damage to its siding due to the heat of the fire. No neighboring houses were evacuated.

The cause of the fire remains unknown as the Brainerd Fire Department continues its investigation, but Holmes noted foul play was not suspected.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Brainerd and Deerwood fire departments provided about 35 firefighters, with help from the Brainerd Police Department, Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office, North Memorial Health Ambulance and Brainerd Public Utilities.

Holmes said changing batteries in a home's smoke detector at least twice a year and recommends using daylight saving time as a good reminder to change the batteries.

Also Thursday, firefighters were called at 9:40 a.m. for a report of a gas leak on the 1100 block of Northeast Fourth Street in Brainerd. Upon investigation, it was determined to be unfounded.