Two women and a child fled a house fire on Isabella Street in Williamsport last week.

After firemen attacked the fire, they and codes personnel found no evidence of a smoke detector and the house was condemned.

Earlier in the week, a working smoke alarm was instrumental in alerting residents to a bedroom fire in a home on Fifth Avenue in the city.

The smoke alarm may very well have saved their lives.

The difference in these two emergency circumstances should be obvious.

Smoke detectors are not only a necessity, they very possibly are a lifesaver in the event of a fire.

City codes inspectors found a smoke detector during a rental inspection at the Isabella Street property in 2014 and it was due for another inspection next year.

It should not be the city’s responsibility to make sure that a smoke detector in working order during an inspection stays that way. It’s up to property owners to make sure that happens. And renters should not hesitate to notify the city when they believe routine codes regulations are not being met.

And there’s an obvious reminder/lesson here for homeowners throughout the region.

Check regularly to make sure smoke detectors at your home are working.

When the emergency hits, it’s too late.

A working smoke detector is a minor expense that can be a lifesaver. Bargains don’t get better than that.