Gypsum, Colo. – Early Sunday morning, September 18, 2016, smoke alarms awoke a Gypsum family allowing them to safely evacuate their home as fire spread quickly up the back of the house from the deck.

The Vail Public Safety Communications Center received the call at 5:25 am and immediately dispatched the Gypsum Fire Protection District and the Greater Eagle Fire Protection District.  Gypsum Fire Protection was first on scene and discovered an exterior fire quickly working its way up two levels of the home.  A quick response and team work by both departments helped attack the fire from both outside and inside the residence saving the home with minimal damage to contents. Eagle County Paramedic Services and the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist.

The fire is under investigation and the home has suffered smoke and fire damage on two of the three levels of the home. The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the community that having the smoke alarms in operating order no doubt assisted in this family’s safe evacuation.

If you think you may have any information about the suspect or this crime, please call the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 328-8500 or Eagle County Crime Stoppers at 970-328-7007, 1-800-972-TIPS, submit your tip online at www.tipsubmit.com, or text a tip from your cell phone by texting STOPCRIME plus your message to CRIMES (274637).  If your tip leads to the arrest and indictment of any suspect involved, you could earn up to a $1,500 reward from the Crime Stoppers.