ORANGE PARK, Fla. – An Orange Park family is safe and OK after an overnight fire and they can give thanks to their family dog. The family might not have woken up if it weren't for the dog waking the family up by barking.
Orange Park Fire Department officials were called to the house fire at approximately 2:45 a.m Tuesday.
After the family pet alerted the family to the fire in the 500 Block of Loring Village Court in Orange Park, an emergency call was placed to 911 dispatchers.
Five engine companies, an ambulance and a Chief were dispatched to the fire. When they first arrived, firefighters' saw heavy fire in the structure venting to the outside through the roof.
The house, valued at approximately $200,000 has $100,000 in damage.
No family members or firefighters were injured in the fire. People in the area were unable to return to their homes for several hours
due to the high levels of carbon monoxide. The residents that were affected by the fire were receiving services from the Red Cross.
The fire was reported under control about 30 minutes later and was completely out at 3:26 a.m.
The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, but is not considered suspicious. A working smoke detector was not found in the home following the fire and the incident is currently under investigation by the Town of Orange Park Fire Marshal's Office.
Fire officials urge residents to check their smoke detectors to ensure they are properly maintained, have fresh batteries and are working in the event of a fire.
A working smoke detector is found in fewer than 50 percent of all fires involving a fatality. Detectors provide vital notification of a fire, especially at night and may allow a family last minute seconds needed to get out of a burning home.