Family of 3, pet dog, escape NW Side house fire thanks to smoke alarm

Fire was reported at 5:30 a.m. at home located on Laven Dr

SAN ANTONIO – A family of three and their pet dog were able to safely escape a house fire early Wednesday morning thanks to their smoke alarm, San Antonio firefighters said.

The call for a fire came out around 5:30 a.m. at the home located on Laven Drive near LaCrescenta Street on the city's Northwest Side.

Firefighters said as soon as they opened their first station doors they could see the smoke.

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The single family house was on fire with flames concentrated mostly in the middle section, firefighters said. The flames then eventually made their way to the roof.

The family, which included a four-year-old child, made it out safely because the smoke alarm woke them up. They exited through the back door since the front door was blocked by the fire, firefighters said. A space heater is in that portion of the house but it is unclear if that started the fire.  

One person in the family was taken to an area hospital after he went back inside to grab a hose to try to put the fire out, firefighters said. The man suffered some slight smoke inhalation and first and second degree burns.

At this time a damage estimate is not currently known. Fire investigators said the cause of the fire was electrical.


About the Authors:

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.