UPDATED: Quick-thinking youngsters alert family to fire

Update: NBFES is confirming Wednesday morning the home did not have working smoke alarms at the time of the fire. The owner of the home has been charged with two counts of failing to have the required alarms. Each charge carries with it a $360 fine.

Working smoke and CO alarms are required by law, NBFES reminds. Failure to have and maintain required alarms can result in an owner being charged. Properly located, properly maintained alarms will save lives.
 

Original story:

Six members of a North Bay household have been temporarily displaced due to a fire in a basement storage room in a Marshall Park Drive home just after 7 p.m., Tuesday.

Everyone who was inside at the time got out safely.

The homeowner tells BayToday he was at the front of the house on the upper level and had no idea the storage room located in the back part of the basement was on fire and emitting thick black smoke.

One of the occupants of the home was in a room directly above the storage room and announced they could smell smoke, the homeowner says, while a youngster playing in the basement noticed the smoke coming from around the door and alerted those inside to the danger. They quickly made their escape.

Due to the smoke damage, the homeowner says the occupants will stay with nearby family members until the home is cleared for them to return.

Platoon Chief Mike Hives confirms all three North Bay Fire and Emergency Services stations responded and quickly ran a hose across Marshall Park Drive to suppress the fire while also engaging fans to clear the smoke. Damage is likely in the thousands of dollars. 

Hives advises, due to the unknown origin of the fire, NBFES Fire Prevention officers had been dispatched to the scene to investigate. He agreed, if not for the actions of the young people inside, the entire ordeal could have been much worse for the family.