FIRE
Fire alarm rouses family, enables six to escape
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Upper Arlington fire officials credit a residential fire alarm system with saving a local family from an extra-company fire that ravaged their home last Saturday morning.
Jeff and Jen Clowdus and their four children, ages 15 months to 8 years, were awakened by the sound of their fire alarm early Saturday morning, UAFD officials said in a news release. Smoke had filled their home at 2500 Coventry Road. They evacuated and ran to a neighbor's house at 5:21 a.m. and called 9-1-1.
Upper Arlington fire units arrived at 5:25 and found a fire in the basement. Flames had broken through windows on the southwest corner of the house, the news release said, and smoke was floor to ceiling when firefighters with hose lines entered the building.
An extra medic unit and engine company were called to the scene because of weather conditions and the size of the fire. Lane Avenue was shut down for a short time as hose lines were laid from a hydrant across the street.
There were no injuries to the residents or firefighters, UAFD officials said, but the family's two pet cats died in the fire.
The fire was declared under control at 6:14 a.m. The Red Cross was called to the scene to assist the family with post-fire concerns. The family is staying with relatives.
Approximately 40 fire personnel from Upper Arlington, Columbus, and Grandview Heights responded to the incident.
