Two dogs were saved from a house fire in the 3300 block of Armbruster Road east of De Soto on Monday, April 3. No one was injured, De Soto Rural Deputy Chief John Scullin said.
He said a young woman came home from school, opened the back door and immediately saw smoke. She then called 911, left safely with both dogs and closed the door to the house, which was good because it reduced the spread of the fire.
The De Soto Rural Fire Protection District got a call at 3:10 p.m. about the fire, and the first pumper arrived at 3:13 p.m. and immediately attacked the fire through the basement door. The fire was under control in about 20 minutes, Scullin said.
He said the fire started in the basement and broke through the ceiling to the room above, which he believes was the living room. He said the living room was being remodeled so there were no furnishings in that room.
Scullin said the fire is not believed to be suspicious, but as of Tuesday morning, April 4, the cause was unknown.
He said about 15 percent of the home was damaged by fire, but the family was not displaced. Firefighters ventilated the home and remained on the scene until after 6 p.m. A restoration company was called to board up the room damaged by fire.
The Hematite and Jefferson R-7 fire protection districts and the De Soto Fire Department helped with the call, and the Valle Ambulance District also responded to the scene.