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The boy woke up early and was playing at about 7:30 a.m. when he smelled smoke in the home on the 600 block of Mayfair Avenue, said Acting Battalion Chief Mike Krause. Two adults, including the boy’s father, and two other children were still asleep, he added. The little boy woke up his father and told him about the smell and he called the fire department.

Krause said the flames started in the attic and most of the smoke from the smoldering fire was trapped up there. The small amount that made it into the house was not enough to set off smoke detectors.

Fire crews were able to quickly put out the fire but had to cut out some rafters, plywood and drywall. Because investigators believe the fire started in the electrical system the home’s gas and power were cut off Thursday morning. Krause said the family won’t be able to return until repairs are made and the utilities are turned back on, which could take a couple days. The Red Cross will help the family find temporary housing. No one was injured.

“They were very lucky the boy got up early,” he said. “This could have been a lot worse.”