A Langford man awoke to smoke in his basement suite early this morning and escaped without serious injuries.

Firefighters said there was no working smoke alarm in the suite at 238 Stellar Lane and used it as an opportunity to remind people of their importance.

“We definitely recommend working smoke alarms in each house and on each level of every house,” Assistant Chief Scott Davidson said today.

The fire started in the bedroom of the man's roommate, who was not home at the time. The man was treated at the scene by B.C. Ambulance paramedics, but refused to go to hospital. He appears to be fine, said Davidson.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The fire caused smoke damage in the suite and some damage to the upstairs, said Davidson.

Davidson recommends people test their smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries in the smoke alarms twice a year.

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