At 11:23 p.m. on Saturday morning, Sault Ste. Marie firefighters responded to a house fire in the 400 block of Dawson Street.
Fire Chief Ed Miller says the house was occupied by a family of five who were all able to escape without injury.
However, one firefighter was injured and was transported to the hospital with a minor musculoskeletal injury. That firefighter has been cleared to return to duty, according to Miller.
There are conflicting reports on how the family was alerted to the fire. Miller noted that there were two smoke alarms in the home, however, they did not function nor alert the residents.
Miller continues to stress that working smoke detectors save lives.
"I am not sure why the smoke alarms did not function. The one near the fire room was destroyed, but the other one worked when the button was pressed but appeared to be older than 10 years. Smoke alarms to have a lifespan of 10 years and should be maintained," Miller added.
The family has been displaced due to the fire damage. They were assisted by the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office Victim Services Unit.
The Soo Township Fire Department was called in to assist with manpower.
Firefighters cleared the scene around 2:40 a.m. on Sunday.
The second storey of the home sustained significant fire damage, while the main floor sustained water damage.
Miller said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
