Smoke detector likely saved homeowner’s life in Holts Summit house fire, firefighters say

A Holts Summit homeowner is safe and their home is only partially destroyed after it caught fire early Saturday morning, according to Scott Pasley, public information officer with the Holts Summit Fire Protection District.

Pasley said firefighters responded to a residential structure fire in the 1000 block of County Road 4036 around 4:30 a.m.

When firefighters arrived, they saw fire and smoke coming from a home, Pasley said.

Pasley said firefighters were able to fight the fire from inside the home, an interior attack, and contained it to one corner of house.

Pasley said the actions firefighters took saved the majority of the home, but a working smoke detector likely saved the homeowner’s life.

“There was only one resident home at the time of the fire and the fire was below, on the same level as and above the resident’s bedroom. the homeowner was awoken by the smoke detector, immediately evacuated the home and called 911. Without the smoke detector alarm, I am not sure the homeowner awakens in time to evacuate,” Pasley said.

Pasley said six fire trucks and 18 firefighters responded to the scene. He said New Bloomfield Fire, Callaway County Sheriff’s Department and Callaway Ambulance responded to help.