Noisy parrot saves the day

2007-10-25 13:24

Indiana - A noisy parrot that likes to imitate sounds helped save a man and his son from a house fire by imitating a smoke alarm, the bird's owner says.

Shannon Conwell, 33, said he and his nine-year-old son fell asleep on the couch while watching a movie. They awoke about 03:00 on Friday to find their home on fire after hearing the family's Amazon parrot, Peanut, imitating a fire alarm.

"He was really screaming his head off," Conwell said.

The smoke alarm had activated, but it was the bird's call that caught Conwell's attention.

"I grabbed my son and my bird, and got out of the house," he said.

The fire destroyed the home's dining room, kitchen and bedroom, Muncie fire officials said. It remains under investigation.

- AP