Franklin, TN - Two young men narrowly escaped injury after the back porch of the mobile home they were sleeping in ignited early this morning. The homeowner, a man in his twenties, was awakened by his cat to find the fire burning through the rear door of the structure and extending into the home.

The homeowner told Franklin Fire Marshal Andy King that he went to bed around 11:00 p.m. and woke to his cat "screaming" and pacing across his bed. He smelled the smoke and upon investigation discovered the fire. He and his roommate were able to escape safely through the front door, along with the cat.

King said the single smoke alarm in the residence did not activate because the wires had been cut and the battery had been removed.

“Had the fire continued burning a minute longer, at least one of the occupants would have been trapped in his bedroom and only had a window to use for escape,” said King.

The Franklin Fire Department responded to the Franklin Estates Mobile Home Park at 700 West Meade Blvd. with two tower trucks, one ladder truck, one engine, one rescue truck, and 16 personnel at around 3:12 a.m.

King said the homeowner used a garden hose on the fire prior to the fire department’s arrival, which extinguished much of the fire and helped to limit destruction.

The home was not insured. The Williamson County Chapter of the American Red Cross is helping the men.

King said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but fireworks cannot be ruled out. “The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but the Franklin Police responded to three complaints of fireworks in the area earlier that evening,” said King. He estimated the damage at $5,000.

SMOKE ALARM SAFETY TIPS

Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly.

• INSTALL smoke alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
• Larger homes may need ADDITIONAL smoke alarms to provide enough protection.
• For the best protection, INTERCONNECT all smoke alarms so when one sounds they all sound. 
• Smoke alarms should be INSTALLED away from the kitchen to prevent false alarms. Generally, they should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from a cooking appliance.
• REPLACE all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
• AND DON’T FORGET…All smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month using the test button.

For more information contact the Franklin Fire Department at (615) 791-3270 or visit our website at www.franklintn.gov/fire.

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