Lack of smoke detectors blamed for spread of fire

By SILVIO J. PANTA

The lack of smoke detectors was blamed for how a garage fire swept through an El Centro home early today and forced eight people to flee for their lives, a fire captain said.

Heavy winds also fueled the flames that destroyed the three bedroom house in the 500 block of Tangerine Drive where two fire engines and a paramedic unit rushed to the scene of the 1:45 a.m. blaze, said Fire Capt. Chad Whitlock. Flames engulfed the entire structure of the home, making the crew of nine firefighters douse the fire on the home's exterior so as to prevent damage to an adjacent house, Whitlock said.

The fire was sparked inside the garage where newspapers and other combustible materials were stored, Whitlock said. One of the eight people smelled the smoke and alerted the others, he said. Whitlock stressed the importance of having at least one working smoke detector inside a home. A program is currently available that provides the mechanism to those who can't afford one, Whitlock said.None of the occupants were injured.