A mail carrier likely saved a Sedalia woman’s home from burning, said firefighters.

The man delivering mail saw smoke coming from 1102 E. Fourth St. just before 9 a.m. Tuesday and called police, said Battalion Chief Greg Harrell. The man, who didn’t want to be identified, knocked on the door to make sure nobody was inside.

Homeowner Margey Amberg was at work when the fire started, Harrell said.

The heat from an electric space heater on the back porch ignited an ice chest with papers inside, Harrell said. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, which spread to a porch wall, before it caused an major damage to the home.

“The postal carrier deserves all the credit,” Harrell said. “Ten minutes either way, it could have had a different outcome. He did a tremendous job.”

Firefighters kept the back door closed, and as a result there was “very minor” smoke damage inside, Harrell said.

“It really was fortunate the way it all worked out,” he said.