Working smoke detectors in a four-apartment complex on Perryman Drive alerted residents Wednesday night to a fire in a second- floor bathroom.

Firefighters from five communities responded just before 9:30 p.m. to 9 Perryman Drive where the occupant of one of the apartments reported heavy smoke in the apartment, Deputy Chief Don Koslosky of the Brunswick Fire Department said this morning.

“When we pulled on scene, there was heavy smoke coming from the eaves of the fourapartment complex,” Koslosky said. “When firefighters made entry, they were met with heavy smoke and heat at the top of the stairs. They opened up the nozzle and when they went to investigate, there was no fire — just heavy charring. We don’t know if what little water we put onto it put it out or if, when the toilet and sink broke, that water could have put it out.”

Firefighters from Brunswick, Bath, West Bath, Topsham and Freeport responded to the scene and covered the Brunswick station. Crews cleared the scene after approximately 90 minutes, Koslosky said.

Two adults and at least one child in the apartment escaped injury, as did firefighters. The apartment was left inhabitable, mainly from smoke, according to Koslosky, but the three other apartments in the complex were not damaged.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Koslosky credited smoke detectors with likely saving the occupants.

“We find a lot that working smoke detectors save lives and property,” he said. The detectors “alerted the occupants to the fire, as well as a crashing sound from upstairs, that we believe was probably the breaking of the toilet and sink. Early detection probably saved them.”

The occupants were able to find temporary lodging last night on their own, Koslosky said.

bbrogan@timesrecord.com