Smoke alarm saves woman from fire

The Fire Service said the smoke alarm was likely to have saved the woman's life. Photo / Rachel Alford

A woman has lost her home but lucky to be alive after waking to the sound of a smoke alarm this morning.

The woman was woken shortly after 3am and found a large fire in the living room of her two-storey West Auckland home.

Huia deputy chief fire officer Stephen Laloli said by the time fire fighters got there the whole house was on fire.

He said had the woman not escaped, he would have thought twice before sending fire fighters into the building because there was a risk the ceiling could collapse.

Mr Laloli said the smoke alarm is likely to have saved the woman's life.

"If she didn't have it, it could have been a different story," Mr Laloli said.

"No one was hurt and the property can be rebuilt," Mr Laloli said.

He said the cause of the fire is not yet known and fire safety officers are investigating.

- NZHERALD STAFF