Couple, Pets Escape Tulsa House Fire

Two people are safe, but their home has severe damage after a late night fire near Interstate 244 and Utica.

A man and woman were sleeping in a home in the 1500 block of East Admiral Place when it went up in flames shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday. Officials tell us one of them heard a couple of loud thumps and woke up. He thought it might be the dogs so he went back to sleep.

But then the noise woke him up a second time, and he went to investigate. That's when he saw large flames in the back of the home.

Tulsa Fire Captain Mike Burgess said it was very fortunate the residents managed to wake up on their own without a working smoke detector.

"Just having a smoke detector doesn't do you any good unless it's functioning, so you need to test those batteries," said Captain Mike Burgess, Tulsa Fire Department.

"We say twice a year - during the time change forward and back - and replace then them at least every 10 years so you know it's going to work."

He also advised having the smoke detectors near where you're sleeping.

The fire department also says the primary purpose of a smoke detector is to wake you up when you're sleeping, so make sure you have one near your bedroom.

"A lot of times you don't wake up, and you breathe smoke during your sleep and are incapacitated."

Burgess said Engine 16 rescued four puppies. The adult female dog and a fifth puppy got out on their own, he said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Red Cross is assisting the family.

Tulsa house fire near I-244 and Utica.