Arson has been determined as the cause of a fire that damaged a home in the 3100 block of Carlton Drive in High Ridge, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Andy Sides said.
No one was home when the fire started, but a man who lives there returned home the evening of April 8, heard smoke detectors going off, saw smoke filling the home and ran inside to rescue two dogs who were inside kennels, said Capt. John Barton of the High Ridge Fire Protection District.
He said the man and the dogs got out of the home uninjured.
The home is uninhabitable because of smoke and fire damage, Barton said.
He said crews were dispatched to the scene at 6:32 p.m. and arrived at 6:37 p.m. They had the fire under control by 6:50 p.m. and left the scene at 8:55 p.m.
Barton said the fire started in the back bedroom of the house.
Sides said Monday that the fire is still under investigation and no suspects have been identified.
Red Cross helped the residents after the fire, Barton said.
He said the Fenton Fire Protection District helped with the call, and Northwest Jefferson Ambulance District responded to the scene.