Police: Tragedy Averted Thanks to Smoke Detector

are crediting a smoke detector with saving a Noyac woman’s life after it woke her early Monday morning as her attached garage and a portion of her house were becoming engulfed in flames.

Police said that, considering the volume of fire and the speed at which it was spreading, without the smoke detector Carol Chevian, 58, likely would have been overcome by smoke or flame.

A Burkeshire Drive resident called 911 at 2:24 a.m. reporting that a neighbor’s house was on fire, and immediately after Chevian, the sole occupant of the burning house at 3 Burkeshire Drive, called 911 as well, according to police. Upon police arrival, Chevian said she was asleep in bed when the smoke detector went off and she immediately evacuated and called police once safely outside.

“It took the approximately 45 minutes to bring the blaze under control,” a police statement reads. “The home and two vehicles, one in the garage and one adjacent to the garage door, suffered significant damage; however, no civilians or fire personnel were injured.”

The and assisted and the stood-by in Sag Harbor.

Police said the cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious, but the Southampton Town fire marshals are investigating. As of 10 a.m. Monday morning, Chief Fire Marshal Cheryl Kraft said marshals were still on scene and no information was immediately available.

Police took the opportunity to urge residents to ensure they have a working smoke detector in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area and at least one on every floor. Detectors should be tested once a month and batteries replaced twice a year, police added.