Sudbury-area family loses home, pets in early morning fire

A Garson family escaped a devastating early morning house fire Friday, thanks officials say to working smoke alarms. The home on Stacy Crescent is a total loss.

A Greater Sudbury family escaped with their lives but lost their home and two pets in a devastating fire early Friday morning.

Fire crews were called to a residence on Stacy Crescent in the community of Garson at about 2:30 a.m. after reports of flames coming from the house. Greater Sudbury Deputy Fire Chief Jesse Oshell said 28 firefighters from five different stations responded to the blaze.

Fire officials told CTV News that flames were already breaking through the roof by the time crews arrived and are crediting working smoke alarms with alerting the occupants allowing them to get to safety.

Oshell said the family, who are now displaced, “owe their lives to the working smoke alarms that were in the home.”

The house was declared a complete loss, with damage estimated at $750,000.

A heartbreaking loss

The homeowners’ daughter Alyssa Mirabella said in an online fundraiser that her parents made it out with only the clothes they were wearing.

“Nothing was salvageable,” she wrote, noting that her parents are “devastated” and are processing the shock while figuring out how to start over.

The emotional toll was compounded by the loss of their two cats.

“They are absolutely heartbroken over the loss of their two beloved cats, Bijou and Sofia,” Mirabella wrote.

Cause unknown

As of Friday evening, the official cause of the fire remains unknown, though fire investigators believe it originated in the home’s attached garage area.

Oshell told CTV News that the fire is not considered suspicious.