MILLER BAY — A smoke alarm likely saved a man’s life Tuesday morning, alerting his roommate who called 911 after the man apparently fell asleep with a lit cigarette to spark a fire that filled his room with noxious fumes, according to North Kitsap Fire & Rescue spokeswoman Michele Laboda.

NKF&R and Poulsbo Fire Department crews were dispatched at 9:47 a.m. Tuesday to a possible residential structure fire on Silver Springs Road, between Suquamish and Kingston, after a smoke alarm activated and one of the home’s occupants discovered smoke coming from another occupant’s room.

The initial 911 caller provided an incorrect address, slightly delaying crews’ arrival. Despite this, the first units arrived in just over seven minutes following dispatch to find the fire out. Unnecessary units were returned to their stations.

The small fire was limited to a pillow which appears to have been ignited by a cigarette, but the entire bedroom was filled with smoke. Although the reporting party was able to douse the flames with water, she was unable to awaken the man asleep in the bed. Firefighters assisted him from the home, and he was transported to Harrison Medical Center by aid unit.

There were no other injuries to firefighters and civilians.

According to the United States Fire Administration, smoking is the leading cause of fatal fires in the United States. Nearly one-quarter of all fatal fires are sparked by smoking materials, with 30 percent of these incidents breaking out in sleeping or lounging areas of homes, where people may fall asleep while smoking. Officials strongly advise against smoking in bed, an activity that too often leads to fatal fires.