A Dec. 12 fire claimed a Cedar Hill couple’s belongings and damaged their house while they were in the process of moving to a new home, said Fire Chief Mick Fischer of the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District.
“Their belongings were in the house, and they had just begun the moving process,” he said.
The district got a call at 7:03 a.m. about the fire at the home in the 7800 block of Woodland Drive. When firefighters arrived at the scene, “there was heavy smoke showing” in the single-story ranch home, Fischer said.
“When they did their 360, they found heavy fire in the basement,” he said. “They went in the basement door with a hand line (hose) and worked their way in.”
No one was home at the time, Fischer said.
The fire was under control at about 7:40 a.m., but firefighters continued working to put out hot spots and make sure the fire was extinguished. The last truck went back into service at 12:17 p.m., he said
The home sustained “severe damage,” Fischer said.
The State Fire Marshal's Office and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the fire.
“They determined through their investigation that it was an accidental fire,” Fischer said.
The home was insured, he said.
The couple has moved into their new house, Fischer said.
The Hillsboro, High Ridge and St. Clair fire protection districts and the Big River Ambulance District assisted with the call.