A 16-year-old Ukraine exchange student got a little more than an American education Feb. 18.

The student, staying with a family on Maureen Lane, was awakened at 3:30 in the morning by the feeling of intense heat and noticed that her bedroom was on fire.

The homeowner and her 18-year-old daughter were first awakened by the 16-year-old when she began yelling fire and then by the sound of the smoke detector. All three were able to escape safely.

As the first engine approached the scene they reported heavy smoke coming from the front of the residence. As they stopped at the house next door to connect a hose to the fire...