Some really fortunate timing may have kept a small fire at a Springfield home from becoming much worse.
Springfield Fire Department inspectors arrived at a home on Briarcliff Drive Wednesday to inspect a new solar array. When they arrived, they heard smoke detectors going off inside the home while the resident was outside doing yard work.
The resident discovered she had locked herself out of the home and had left food on the stove. The fire department personnel made entry into the home and were notified that two children were sleeping upstairs. They were able to get the children out safely and put out the fire, despite the presence of heavy smoke.
Fire officials say in addition to the good fortune of the inspectors arriving when they did, it was lucky the homeowner had just installed new smoke detectors the previous week, which alerted them to the fire; no one was hurt in the incident.
