An attic fire on Thursday (Feb. 19) left a family’s home in the 4500 block of Shamrock Lane in House Springs uninhabitable, says Assistant Chief Greg Shuster of the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District.
The attic fire began near the house’s flue and smoldered for hours in the insulation while the family slept unaware, Shuster said.
“The resident woke up and saw a black spot on the ceiling,” he said. “It’s a good thing he didn’t touch it and instead called 911.”
The district received a call at 6:24 a.m. about the fire, and firetrucks from Cedar Hill’s House 1 were on the scene in about nine minutes, Shuster said.
House 1 is just over five miles from the home. House 3, two miles from the home, was not staffed at the time of the fire.
“When we arrived, there was light smoke showing,” Shuster said.
Crews had to take down the ceiling to fight the fire, but were able to move and cover furnishings to protect the family’s belongings, he said.
Neither the residents nor the firefighters were injured.
Firefighters, however, faced frigid temperatures while working to extinguish the fire.
“For as cold as it was, the crews did a great job,” Shuster said.
The fire was brought under control in about 40 minutes and crews were on the scene about two and a half hours, Shuster said.
The High Ridge, Eureka and Pacific fire protection districts and Big River Ambulance District assisted with the call.