An Anchor Point family credits smoke detectors with saving their lives in an early morning fire that destroyed their cabin off the Sterling Highway. Smoke was within a minute of suffocating Wayne and Janette Flint, Wayne Flint said, but the alarm alerted them in time.

"I escaped with my shoes," he said. "We had to crawl out on our hands and knees."

The fire started about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, apparently from an electrical short in a dryer. Flint, a veteran professional and volunteer firefighter, had smelled smoke earlier, but assumed it came from a contained slash burn.

"If you smell smoke, then there's fire," he said. "I should have known better."

Anchor Point Volunteer Fire Department firefighters were unable to save the Flints' home. When they arrived, Flint grabbed a nozzle and joined the response. The family saved some items such as documents. Their home was uninsured, but they have received assistance from the Alaska Red Cross -- and their neighbors, Flint said.

A professional firefighter in Seattle and a volunteer firefighter in Seldovia and other Alaska communities, Flint said it's interesting being on the other end of a fire response.

"From a different perspective, it makes you appreciate it," he said. "It makes all those years I did volunteer fire department work -- it all came back."

Despite losing his home, Flint is philosophical.

"I don't want anybody to go through it (a fire), but on the other hand, I wish people could appreciate it to see the good of the community," he said. "We want to make sure a 'thank you' goes out to everybody for their hard work. We appreciate it very much," he added. "Anytime you can walk away from a fire or a car accident, it's the best day of your life."

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michaelarmstrong.@homernews.com.