Family escapes Sarasota house fire

SARASOTA - A three-alarm fire sent three people to the hospital overnight, but smoke alarms in their home may have saved their lives.

Sarasota County firefighters arrived at the Countrywood Drive home just after 4 a.m. to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the back of the house.

Four people inside -- two adults and two young children -- were sleeping when the fire broke out, but they were alerted by smoke alarms and all were able to get out.

The two children and their mother were taken to the hospital for evaluation but firefighters say they were in good condition. One firefighter suffered an ankle injury but was treated at the scene.

Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the fire.