A Saturday morning blaze destroyed a home in Tanglewood Estates subdivision in Festus, but three children and an adult escaped unharmed, authorities reported.
Festus Fire Chief Chuck Boyer said his department received the call at 11:28 a.m. for a one-story ranch at 1849 Championship Lane.
“The house was a total loss,” Boyer said. “There was some heat damage to one neighboring home. We put hose lines on it to cool it down. Heat warped siding on the neighboring home.”
He said it took about two and a half hours to get the fire under control. Firefighters stayed on the scene for four hours, he said.
No firefighters were injured during the incident, Boyer said.
The Festus Fire Department received assistance from the Hematite, Jefferson R-7, Mapaville, Crystal City and Dunklin fire agencies.
Boyer said the fire started in the garage and appears to have been caused either by a disposed match thrown into a trash can or by a lit candle.
The house is owned by Kim Brucato, 51, who has resided there with her fiance, Joe Gray, 53. Neither were home at the start of the blaze, but both rushed to the scene after being contacted.
Brucato said those who were in the home when the fire struck were her fiancé’s daughter, Justy Gray, and Justy Gray’s children who are ages 13, 2 and 9 months. They had been staying with Brucato and Joe Gray temporarily, Brucato said.
Brucato said her neighbors have been generous in donating clothing and other items to her family. Insurance has paid for the family to stay at a hotel following the fire, she said.
Read more about the fire in the Oct. 6 Jefferson County Leader.
– Kevin Carbery
