A 31-year-old High Ridge man died this morning (May 26) in a fire at his home in the 2500 block of Thunder Road, High Ridge Fire Protection District Engineer John Barton said.
He said the fire started in the man’s bedroom.
The man lived at the home with his brother. The brother’s two children – a 10-year-old old boy and 7-year old girl – were visiting at the time. The victim’s brother and the children, a well as a dog, got out of the house safely, Barton said.
He said the children’s father tried to rescue his brother several times, but was unable to reach him due to the fire.
Barton said High Ridge Fire got a call about the fire at about 9 a.m. this morning, after the children noticed the fire and alerted their father.
Barton said the fire is being investigated by the state Fire Marshal’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the High Ridge fire marshal, and at 1:20 p.m. today, all three agencies were still on the scene.
Barton said all the bedrooms in the home were destroyed, and the house is not habitable.
He said the Saline Valley and Fenton fire protection districts helped with the call.