Authorities are crediting a smoke detector for...

Authorities are crediting a smoke detector for saving two lives Monday night during a fire in the East Bluff neighborhood. No one was injured in the blaze, which began about 11:15 p.m. at a house in the 2000 block of Avenida Chico. The homeowner, 51-year-old Dave Peterson, and his 11-year-old daughter were awakened by the blaring of the smoke alarm. The downstairs portion of the house was filled with smoke. Peterson called the Fire Department, which arrived within five minutes. Authorities believe the origin of the fire was a smoldering cigar butt that fell onto a couch.

There was no major damage to the structure, although some contents suffered smoke damage. But because the smoke alarm was working, the residents “were alerted early and able to escape without any harm,� said Lt. John Blauer of the Fire and Marine Department. “There could have been worse problems.�