Smoke alarms, sprinklers credited in Nixa, Mo. apartment fire

NIXA, Mo. (KY3) -No injuries or fatalities were reported after a fire broke out Friday morning at the Terraces at Copper Leaf apartment complex.

The Nixa Fire Protection District was dispatched at 7:35 and arrived on scene in under four minutes. Crews found fire visible in a third-story breezeway. The fire was under control a few minutes later.

Battlefield Fire Protection District and Ozark Fire Protection District provided automatic aid.

The building’s smoke alarms worked as designed and alerted other renters to evacuate. The fire sprinkler system helped slow the spread of the fire until crews arrived.

Fire damage was limited to the affected apartment and the breezeway, with some light smoke and water damage to other apartments. The two residents of the affected apartment are displaced and did not require Red Cross assistance.

Firefighters rescued two cats and a rabbit from the apartment. After receiving oxygen, the animals were reunited with their owner.

The Christian County Ambulance District helped care for the animals, and the Christian County Disaster Animal Response Team provided cat carriers for the owners.

The fire is believed to be accidental and traced to lithium-ion batteries.

“Working smoke alarms, a working sprinkler system, and a fast response made the difference today. Everyone got out safely, and we were even able to reunite a family with their pets,” said Assistant Chief Whitney Weaver.

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