A smoke alarm helped save a family of nine, including a six-week-old baby caught in an overnight fire in San Jose.
Firefighters battled the two-alarm residential fire in East San Jose in a neighborhood firefighters said had "compact row houses."
The fire in the 2200 block of Woodset Drive was reported around 4 a.m. The scene of the fire was Moorings Court, not far from the intersection of Alum Rock and North Jackson Avenue.
A large plume of black smoke could be seen in the area as the fire burned through the house, overwhelming the two-story home. Two other homes suffered minor damage.
Smoke alarms played a big role in saving the lives of the residents in the house, firefighters said, stressing the importance of having fire detectors installed and properly working. Fire officials believe that the family could have easily been trapped inside the house if it hadn't been for the smoke alarm going off at the right time.
Star Williams, who lives in the house, woke up after hearing the smoke alarm go off and led her seven children and her boyfriend to safety.
"Heads up to mom for saving everyone in the house and for having fire detectors," one of the firefighters told NBC Bay Area.
"I grabbed my newborn baby and my other son who was sleeping next to me, and just screamed as loud as I could for my other kids to come out hoping they would hear me," said Star WIlliams. "There were seven of them in all different rooms, I am just thankful we all made it out alive. We may have anything but we still have each other."
Williams ran a daycare in her home which required her to check the batteries in her fire detectors regularly. She also practiced fire-escape drills with her children, which may have helped save their lives.
Local
The fire started in the garage and quickly burned through one home. Williams said she had experienced problems with the wiring in the house in the past.
The Fire Department said the source of the fire remains under investigation.
Smoke alarm saves family of 9 when home catches fire overnight in San Jose. pic.twitter.com/DvMDG5xJwV — Bob Redell (@BobNBC) April 15, 2014
2200 Blk of Moorings Ct. 2nd alarm fire. Under control at 5:31am pic.twitter.com/NWKlDJMMK9 — San Jose Fire Dept. (@SJFD) April 15, 2014
