It’s coming from a smoke detector, sitting outside on an overturned bucket.
“That’s what saved me," said Matthews, who lives in Union, near Alberton.
He was awoken shortly after 8:30 p.m. Thursday evening to the blaring of his basement alarm and one of his two cats pawing at his face. The alarm on the main level sounded soon afterward.
Matthews picked up the dying alarm and opened its battery compartment. The alarm is stained with smoke, but that doesn’t matter. He said he will keep the life-saver.
Matthews, a well-known West Prince musician, had purchased the home from his parents four years ago. It was built 41 years ago, the year he was born. He shares it with his girlfriend, Rebecca Acorn. She was in O’Leary when the fire broke out. He called her and let her know he and their cats were safe.
He rescued the first cat easily enough but estimates he chased the second cat for more than five minutes before corralling it and putting it in his car. After that he had time only to grab his guitar and retreat to safety as the house filled with smoke.
The fire started in the basement.
Alberton fire chief Tom Murphy said the suspicion is that a spark escaped from the draught on Matthews’ furnace and settled in a box of papers in the basement, setting it on fire and catching into what was left of Matthews’ last year’s wood supply.
The fire caused extensive damage in the unfinished basement, burning through water and septic lines, some electrical wiring and a couple of floor joists.
The main level sustained smoke damage. A disaster restoration company was on site Friday, packing up belongings and preparing for a clean-up.
Matthews estimated the clean-up and repair will have them out of the home for about a month. The couple has secured temporary living accommodations.
The O’Leary Volunteer Fire Department answered a mutual aid call to assist the Alberton department in extinguishing the fire.
Murphy said the fire was brought under control quickly but they had some hot spots to contend with and had to lug some of the firewood out of the basement
Matthews said Thursday was the first time he had lit the fire this year. He subsequently dozed off while watching a movie only to be awoken by the alarm and the cat.
ALBERTON – As he stands outside his front door talking about the fire that extensively damaged his home the night before Jamie Matthews’ attention is drawn to a faint chirping noise.
It’s coming from a smoke detector, sitting outside on an overturned bucket.
“That’s what saved me," said Matthews, who lives in Union, near Alberton.
He was awoken shortly after 8:30 p.m. Thursday evening to the blaring of his basement alarm and one of his two cats pawing at his face. The alarm on the main level sounded soon afterward.
Matthews picked up the dying alarm and opened its battery compartment. The alarm is stained with smoke, but that doesn’t matter. He said he will keep the life-saver.
Matthews, a well-known West Prince musician, had purchased the home from his parents four years ago. It was built 41 years ago, the year he was born. He shares it with his girlfriend, Rebecca Acorn. She was in O’Leary when the fire broke out. He called her and let her know he and their cats were safe.
He rescued the first cat easily enough but estimates he chased the second cat for more than five minutes before corralling it and putting it in his car. After that he had time only to grab his guitar and retreat to safety as the house filled with smoke.
The fire started in the basement.
Alberton fire chief Tom Murphy said the suspicion is that a spark escaped from the draught on Matthews’ furnace and settled in a box of papers in the basement, setting it on fire and catching into what was left of Matthews’ last year’s wood supply.
The fire caused extensive damage in the unfinished basement, burning through water and septic lines, some electrical wiring and a couple of floor joists.
The main level sustained smoke damage. A disaster restoration company was on site Friday, packing up belongings and preparing for a clean-up.
Matthews estimated the clean-up and repair will have them out of the home for about a month. The couple has secured temporary living accommodations.
The O’Leary Volunteer Fire Department answered a mutual aid call to assist the Alberton department in extinguishing the fire.
Murphy said the fire was brought under control quickly but they had some hot spots to contend with and had to lug some of the firewood out of the basement
Matthews said Thursday was the first time he had lit the fire this year. He subsequently dozed off while watching a movie only to be awoken by the alarm and the cat.
