Smoke Detector Saves Smyrna Family

Cobb County firefighters are crediting smoke detectors and a well-designed home for saving the lives of a Smyrna family when a fire broke out in their garage early Tuesday morning.

Department spokeswoman Dennell Boyd told Patch that the blaze began in the garage of the home in the 1900 block of Haven Park Circle at approximately 2 a.m. Tuesday. Crews were on scene within four minutes. The fire alarm sounded, alerting the family to the danger and allowing them to exit the home safely.

The home’s design also contributed to the family’s safety, Boyd told Patch; the homeowners’ master bedroom was above the garage, but the garage’s sheet rock roof kept the flames from jumping up to the bedroom. The door from the garage to the rest of the home was fire-rated, preventing the blaze from spreading into the rest of the structure.

Investigators say the homeowner threw a cigarette into a recycling bin late Monday night, which eventually caused an explosion inside the garage, Boyd said.