A family of four escaped their home in the 500 block of Rathburn Street in De Soto at about 3 a.m. Monday (July 23) after a meat smoker used the day before set the house on fire.
The man who lived at the home called 911 at 2:53 a.m., De Soto Fire Chief Craig Block said.
The family was asleep at the time of the fire, but the man woke to the smell of smoke and the popping sounds of a fire, Block said.
“He tried to put it out with a garden hose but couldn’t get inside the wall where the fire was,” Block said.
Firefighters arrived at 3:02 a.m. and found light smoke in the area of the fire.
The man had been smoking meat the day before and left the smoker next to the house, Block said.
“The heat from the smoker started the fire on the exterior of the house, which worked its way into the wall. We pulled the drywall off and extinguished the fire,” Block said.
Then, firefighters checked to see if the fire had extended anywhere else, he said.
“Luckily, the fire was contained to a small area,” he said.
He said the man, a woman and two teenagers got out of the house safely.
“Smoke detectors at the house did not go off,” Block said.
He said damage from the fire was not extensive and the family was able to return to their home.
Firefighters left the scene at 4:15 a.m. and went back into service.
The De Soto Rural, Hillsboro and Hematite fire protection districts and the Valle Ambulance District assisted with the call.