RILEY COUNTY—A working smoke detector helped save a resident from a fire in an apartment in Manhattan.
Just after 4p.m. Tuesday, Manhattan Fire Department (MFD) responded to a fire in the 900 block of Osage Street, according to a media release.
Upon arrival, crews found smoke and flames coming from a detached garage that had been converted into an apartment.
The apartment occupant was home when the fire began and escaped safely after being alerted by a working smoke alarm. No injuries to people or pets were reported.
Firefighters brought the fire under control at 4:42 PM. Crews remained on scene to complete overhaul and mop-up operations. A total of 6 units and 17 personnel responded.
“I’m proud of the work our crews did to bring this fire under control quickly and prevent it from spreading,” said Assistant Chief Mike Kaus.
MFD Fire Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire. Foul play is not suspected. Damage to the structure is estimated at $25,000, with an estimated $15,000 in damage to its contents.
The apartment is uninhabitable, and the occupant will be temporarily displaced.
“This incident is an important reminder that working smoke alarms save lives,” Powell said. “In this case, the alarm gave the occupant the warning they needed to get out safely.
Please take a few minutes to test your smoke alarms regularly, replace batteries as needed, and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for replacing the alarms themselves. We also recommend checking alarms when the time changes, and that's coming up this weekend.”