Four members of a Decatur family were forced from their beds Tuesday morning after their home in the historic Oakhurst neighborhood caught on fire.
The fire spread quickly and appeared to be concentrated near the front porch of the Second Avenue home, according to Decatur fire Assistant Chief Ninetta Violante. When crews arrived, they found flames stretching from the ground “all the way up,” she said.
“The family got out safely, two kids (and) two adults,” Violante said. “The smoke alarms were going off, which signaled to them to get out.”
The fire department provided the children, both around 10 to 11 years old, with activity books and comfort items while they waited for Red Cross assistance and relatives to arrive.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, said Violante, who also serves as the city of Decatur fire marshal. The family slept with their bedroom doors closed, which can help prevent fire from spreading, but the doors were left open during their escape.
“The stairwell was compromised, so it made it hard to get a knockdown on the second floor,” she said. “That was the chief area of concern.”
The extent of the fire damage was not clear Tuesday.
As the nights turn colder, Violante recommends checking all heating devices before and after turning them on for the first time this season. Chimneys, fire pits and personal heaters can all be fire hazards if used improperly.
