16 residents got quite the Valentine's evening surprise in Greeley on Sunday (Feb. 14).

A house fire that damaged both the garage and parts of a residence displaced the 16 residents from their Basalm Avenue home, according to a post from the Greeley Fire Department.

Fortunately all of the residents were able to get safely out and were being assisted by the Red Cross for a temporary residence. What a freezing cold time to be temporarily homeless.

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The fire reportedly started in the garage but quickly spread to the rest of the house. The exact cause is still under investigation.

The Greeley Tribune reports that initial fire damage was estimated at $60,000.

The household was fortunate to have working fire alarms which first alerted the residents. Later additional calls described an explosion and the fire.

"Residential fire alarms and smoke detectors save lives," The Greeley Fire Department wrote in the press release about the incident.

"Please remember to check your smoke detector batteries and ensure they are in good working order. Read and follow manufacturer’s instructions when using additional electric and gas heaters to assist with heating your residence."

Need or want to upgrade your detector set up in your home? Consider Consumer Reports guide to buying smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

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