ICYMI: A Neighbor Smelled Smoke and Helped Save a Family's Home

An alert neighbor helped save a Swampscott home Friday by reporting smoke before the fire had a chance to spread.

An Edgehill Road resident arrived home Friday afternoon and smelled smoke, according to the Daily Item of Lynn. Meagan Schmitt thought the smell was coming from a fire pit, but decided to be safe rather than sorry and called 911.

Swampscott firefighters arrived at 11 Boulder Way shortly after 3:30 p.m. and found a fire had started in the property’s semi-attached garage, according to Fire Chief Kevin Breen.

The garage, he said, at one time had been detached but a breezeway connecting the garage to the main home was added some time ago.

Breen said the fire appears to have started on the right side of the back wall of the garage. Firefighters were able to put out the blaze quickly, containing it to the garage and a small portion of the breezeway ceiling. The home sustained a bit of smoke damage, but no structural damage, Breen said.

The homeowners weren’t home at the time of the blaze, but firefighters did rescue two dogs; both are expected to be fine.a

The exact cause of the blaze has not yet been determined, but Breen said the fire investigation unit was checking into some sort of electrical malfunction.

Breen said the family should be able to live in the home once it has had a chance to air out and any electrical issues have been addressed. He estimated the damage at $60,000-$80,000.

The Lynn, Salem and Marblehead fire departments provided mutual aid.