Three people have a Pueblo police officer to thank for saving them from their burning home Tuesday morning.

Officer Carl Pagels just happened to be in the area of Norwich Avenue and 29th street, when he saw thick smoke coming from the home.

He quickly took action: knocking on every door and window of the house until everyone on the inside--was out.

The only smoke detector in the house is on the upper floor, far from the rooms in the basement where two people were sleeping.

"We really urge people, smoke detectors do save lives...you should have one in every room,"says Gary Micheli, Pueblo Fire Inspector.

No one was injured. About 50% of the home was destroyed.

The cause is still under investigation but the fire department says it appears it to have started on the patio.