A Grove Street family beat the odds this morning by escaping blazes caused by a gas space heater that destroyed three homes, Vicksburg fire inspector Leslie Decareaux said.

At about 1:09 a.m., the smell of smoke woke 1507 Grove St. resident Denise Kemper, who did not have a smoke alarm in her home, Decareaux said.

“She beat statistics,” said Decareaux. “She was asleep, and she woke up smelling smoke.”

Due to the proximity of 1505, the home of Milton Jones, and the 1509 home of Kenita Hayes, they also were “extensively damaged,” Decareaux said.

“All three structures are basically destroyed,” she said.

Vicksburg firefighters had the flames under control by 3:20 a.m. and stayed on scene an additional hour and a half.

Kemper had been home with her two children younger than age two, Decareaux said.

No injuries were reported. The Red Cross provided assistance.