UPDATED Tuesday, September 2, 2008 --- 9:30 p.m.
REPORTER: Chris Woodard

A family is safe after their home goes up in flames thanks to the actions of an off duty sheriff's deputy. He was on his way to work when he was suddenly thrown into duty.

As vehicles barrel past this home's charred remains a family thinks about the car that did stop. It's a decision, they say, probably saved their lives.

Homeowner Rich Procter says, "I mean there was no smoke in the house. There was no detector in the garage. I had no idea."

Dane County Sheriff's Deputy Thor Spilde was on his way to work when he saw the home on fire.

Spilde says, "As I drove by I did see lights on in the residence so I knew there were people inside."

Spilde rushed to the home and began banging on the door.

Procter says, "I heard him say something and I looked out and I thought somebody was messing with me or something like that."

When Rich finally realized what the deputy was saying, he opened the door to his garage and found the entire thing engulfed in flames.

He says, "I told my wife to get all the kids out and she started getting them out and I grabbed the fire extinguisher."

The blaze was overpowering. Melted siding and tireless rims are all that remain, much of the home destroyed.

As a thankful family now tries to move forward, they can't help but look back.

Procter says, "I mean you always think in the back of your head about what could have happened but I'm not going to dwell on it. Everybody is safe and that's what counts."

Spilde says, "It certainly was a matter of being at the right place at the right time."

Right now the family is staying in a hotel but say they do plan to rebuild the home. They're just glad everyone is safe thanks to Spilde's quick action.

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UPDATED Tuesday, September 2, 2008 --- 12:25 p.m.

According to Scott J. Miller, Deputy Fire Chief / Fire Marshal, McFarland Fire Dept.

After reviewing the scene this morning and statements. I have listed this case as open and have listed the preliminary cause as discarded (recently used) fireworks in the garage garbage can as the cause of the fire. The area of origin is listed as the garage.

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Posted Monday, September 1, 2008 --- 10:45pm

Below is the news release from the Dane County Sheriff's Office:

Madison, WI: At approximately 9:42 p.m. on Monday, September 1, 2008, Dane County Deputies and the Fire Departments of Stoughton, Deerfield, Cottage Grove, Blooming Grove, the Town of Madison, and McFarland responded to 2790 Koshkonong Road, Town of Pleasant Springs, for a report of a house fire. Upon Deputy and Fire Department arrival the home was fully engulfed.

The fire which started in the garage but quickly spread to the residence was called in initially by an off-duty deputy. The cause of the fire remains under investigation but does not appear suspicious. The house was a total loss with an estimated damage of $350,000.

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