A Port Colborne man safely escaped a fire in the basement of his Sugarloaf Street home Thursday morning thanks to working smoke alarms.

Chief Tom Cartwright said Port Colborne Fire and Emergency Services was called to 108 Sugarloaf St., on the southeast corner of Sugarloaf and David streets, at 11:30 a.m. for the report of a structure fire. Three trucks responded.

The chief said the fire appears to have been caused by a mishap involving frozen pipes.

"The homeowner was attempting to thaw out frozen pipes when something went wrong," Cartwright said from the scene, as about 12 career and volunteer firefighters continued to go in and out of the house.

Smoke poured out the backdoor and patio doors, windows, and roof vents as crews battled the fire, which continued to smoulder in the basement.

Fire prevention officer Charles Turpin said Canadian Niagara Power and Enbridge Gas crews responded to the scene and shut off hydro and gas service to the home.

Niagara Emergency Medical Services paramedics were staged on David Street, but Turpin said there were no injuries.

Sugarloaf, between Elm Street and just east of David, was closed to traffic and the road was reopened shortly after 2 p.m. as firefighters cleared the scene.

The fire service urges caution when attempting to thaw pipes.

Below are some tips from the Red Cross on how to thaw frozen pipes safely:

• Keep a faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.

• Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water.

• Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame devices.

• Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you cannot thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.

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• Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.