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CREEKSIDE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania fire chief says some cackling chickens turned out to be cock-a-doodle-do-gooders.

Creekside Fire Chief Pete Yacovone says David Wells escaped his burning Indiana County home early Wednesday after his son, who lives across the street, was awakened by his chickens, who may have been startled by the fire.

Yacovone says the chickens made “good smoke detectors” and that if Wells’ son “hadn’t come and got him, we would’ve been fishing a body out of there.”

Wells lives in rural Washington Township, about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

The chief says Wells’ house is still standing, but not livable.

The fire reported about 3:30 a.m. was apparently caused by an electrical problem.