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For the resident of 27 Guyer Road in Westport, the only way out of his burning home was to jump from a second-story window. When Westport firefighters responded to the call shortly after 1 a.m. today, the Cape Cod-style house was engulfed in flames, Assistant Fire Chief Larry Conklin said.
The resident, identified in whitepages.com as Mark T. Ames, was woken by smoke alarms. But because of the intense smoke on the first floor, Ames, in his mid-50s, had no way out but a second-floor window. He reportedly hung from a second-floor windowsill, then dropped safely to the ground.
The fire department responded with four engines, a rescue car and a command car. Eight off-duty firefighters were called in. Westport EMS and the American Red Cross were also called to standby, and Westport police managed traffic.
An engine company from the Fairfield Fire Department was sent to cover Westport fire headquarters during the fire.
No injuries were reported. The last Westport fire unit left the scene by 6 a.m.
The fire department reminded residents to check their smoke detectors often.
"A life was certainly saved this morning because of a smoke detector," Conklin said.
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