House fire under investigation

SMITH COUNTY — A man who is hard of hearing narrowly escaped out of a window when his home caught on fire in the early Thursday morning. According to a county press release, the Smith County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call just before 1:00 a.m., reporting a house fire on County Road 35, north of Tyler.

The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire, and no foul play is expected, Fire Marshal Chad Hogue said. One adult resident was inside the home and escaped out of a window with minor injuries. He was transported to a local hospital by a family member, was treated and released. Two dogs perished in the fire and the home was damaged to the point where it was considered a total loss, Hogue said.

“No functional smoke alarms were located inside the residence and could have provided advanced warning,” he said.

There are special smoke alarms for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. They include strobe lights or devices that shake your bed if smoke or fire is detected.

Hogue said the Fire Marshal’s Office is happy to help people install smoke alarms. They can call 903-590-2655 for assistance. The Red Cross will also assist people with installing smoke alarms, including those for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.