A quick-thinking Montgomery County deputy helped save a family early Thursday morning after spotting a house fire in Witt.

The Sheriff’s Office says just before 2:50 a.m., a deputy on patrol noticed a large cloud of smoke coming from a residential area. After searching for the source, the deputy found a home on fire and immediately notified Montgomery County Telecommunications, which dispatched the Witt Fire Department.

The deputy, assisted by a second deputy, then worked to alert the occupants inside the home. A man, a woman, a four-year-old child, and a pet were all safely evacuated. Authorities say the residents had been asleep and were unaware the home was on fire. No injuries were reported.

Sheriff Rick Holshouser praised the deputies and first responders for their quick actions, saying their alertness likely prevented a much worse outcome.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Witt, Nokomis, Fillmore, Coffeen, and Litchfield fire departments, along with Nokomis-Witt Area Ambulance, Montgomery County EMA, and the Red Cross.