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Family this morning escapes fire at city home

No one was hurt early this morning when a fire caused by careless smoking broke out at a Butler home, authorities said.

Several occupants at the two-story house in the 200 block of American Avenue heard the smoke detector about 1:40 a.m. and got out.

However, Butler firefighters wouldn't learn until later that one man inside apparently slept through the alarm and all the commotion.

Emergency officials said a family of four adults and two children live at the rental house that is near the border with Butler Township. A relative of the residents owns the house.

All of the occupants were sleeping when the fire ignited on the first floor.

Investigators suspect the blaze started when a woman fell asleep while smoking a cigarette on an easy chair in the living room, Fire Chief Nick Ban said.

The smoke alarm went off and awakened the occupants. Some of them ran to neighbor's home for help and to call 911.

Butler Township Sgt. Robert Murphy heard the radio call and was first there. He helped get two people out of the house.

He grabbed a fire extinguisher and helped put out the blaze that was in the living room, officials said.

Then Butler police and fire crews arrived. Firefighters were eventually told that someone else might still be inside.

A fire crew went upstairs where they found one of the occupants in a back bedroom — still sleeping.

“The TV was on loud and he never heard the alarm,” Ban said.

Authorities estimated damage at $10,000.

The family spent the night with relatives.

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