FIRE SCENE in townhouse complex in Garden Grove (OCFA first).

Thanks to alert neighbors, a fire at a home in Garden Grove didn’t turn into a tragedy.

According to the Orange County Fire Authority, neighbors of a two-story townhome in the 14000 block of Grand Meadows (southeast of Brookhurst Street and Westminster Avenue) called 911 and knocked on the front door at 2:16 a.m.Wednesday to alert the residents of smoke coming from their garage.

The sleeping residents didn’t wake up until firefighters arrived and forced entry through the front door. The dog, cats and people were safely evacuated while the blaze was knocked down and confined to the garage in just 18 minutes.

The cause of the fire is termed “unintentional/undetermined.”

A factor in limiting the spread of the fire was that the door from the garage into the home was closed.

The OCFA recommends working smoke alarms in every bedroom, in hallways outside bedrooms or sleeping areas and on every level of the home.