Editor's note: This story is updated with information from MPSD Chief Brice Mesko about smoke detectors.

A Mexico home sustained some moderate smoke and fire damage Tuesday night, according to a news release from the Mexico Public Safety Department. 

There were no injuries.

Just before 11:25 p.m., Mexico Public Safety Department crews responded to the 900 block of Muldrow Street regarding a house fire. Responding personnel found smoke coming from the home, and an attack team found fire in the basement, in the area where laundry is typically done. 

The fire was contained and extinguished in that area, with that portion of the basement sustaining moderate fire damage and the rest of the home having moderate smoke damage. The residents were asleep at the time the fire started, and were alerted by smoke detectors. 

MPSD Chief Brice Mesko said in an email to the Ledger that smoke detectors, or smoke alarms, are "an important and effective safety device that truly no home should be without. People sometimes think they will be awakened by a fire, but that is not always the case. Even if people are awake when the fire starts, smoke alarms can alert them to the danger faster. The smoke from a fire can be disorienting and is dangerous to breathe. Anything that helps people get away from that danger quicker is valuable."

He added that the numbers of how many people are saved by smoke alarms are difficult to determine because of all the factors that go into fires. Still, he said, the National Fire Protection Agency  states that the risk of death from a fire in a home is cut in half with properly working and installed smoke detectors. 

"Mexico Public Safety would like to remind residents that organizations like the American Red Cross will sometimes provide free smoke alarms to people and MPSD is always available to help make sure working smoke detectors are in every home," Mesko  said.