How a smoke alarm helped a man escape his burning home

Alexander MacLeod credits a working smoke alarm and the advice of his children for helping him escape a fire that destroyed his home Sunday in the community of Brooklyn, P.E.I.

• Smoke alarm alerts sleeping resident to fire

MacLeod's 150-year-old farm house on route 317 burned to the ground during the power outages caused by Sunday's stormy weather.

MacLeod told CBC he had been preparing a meal by candlelight and he said he suspects the candles caused the fire.

According to MacLeod, the fire started after he had eaten his meal and was taking a nap on the couch.

Smoke alarm went off

He was awoken by a loud noise.

"At first I thought it was an alarm clock," he said. "But no, it was the smoke alarm so out I went."

• 'I was sick': Fire destroys woman's 1800s home

MacLeod was the only person in the house at the time.

He called 911 and the Montague Fire Department responded.

He was taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation, then released.

Alarm batteries

Monday, MacLeod returned to the property to retrieve a few belongings.

"It was one of my kids who suggested we changed the smoke alarm batteries," he said. "They'd been talking about fire safety at school."

MacLeod said he will be talking to his insurance company about what comes next.

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