Smoke detectors helped save a couple from an Sunday morning house fire in Vallecito.

The couple was asleep when the smoke detector alerted them to a well-advanced fire in the attic that was spreading into the living room. They were able to flee the house uninjured, according to a news release issued by the Upper Pine Fire Protection District.

Upper Pine investigators suspect the fire started in a container used for fireplace ashes stored outside. The blaze spread up along a wall outside of the house and into the attic space and then into the living room.

Upper Pine was dispatched at 5:14 a.m. Sunday to the fire at 17754 County Road 501.

The first-arriving crews found heavy fire coming from the front window and the front right side of the house was ablaze.

Crews were able to contain the fire within 10 minutes. As firefighters battled the blaze, temperatures hovered around 3 degrees and fire vehicles had to deal with slick, snowpacked road conditions.

“We were very lucky a working smoke detector allowed the people to escape a rapidly moving fire,” said Upper Pine Fire Protection District Chief Bruce Evans.

The home sustained heavy damage to the first floor living room, kitchen and dining area.

Upper Pine responded with 11 firefighters, two engines, two water tenders and support units and was assisted by a firefighter and a water tender from Los Pinos Fire Protection District.

parmijo@durangoherald.com

This story has been updated to correct Bruce Evans’ first name.