A fire extensively damaged a Hematite mobile home and killed seven pets on June 29, Hematite Fire officials reported.
The district received a call about 9:50 a.m. for the fire in the 13000 block of Hwy. CC, Lt. Jacob Cortez said.
“The (two adult) occupants were not at home at the time of the fire, but there were pets inside that perished,” he said.
Deputy Chief John Chartrand said six cats and one dog died in the fire.
Cortez said firefighters arrived to find smoke billowing from the mobile home.
“There was smoke showing throughout when firefighters arrived,” he said. “It apparently started in the living room-bedroom area. We had the fire under control by 10:42 a.m.”
Chartrand said the fire damage made the mobile home “a total loss.” No injuries were reported.
Cortez said the fire district contacted the American Red Cross to assist the husband and wife with finding other housing.
He said no cause of the fire has yet been determined, but it is not considered suspicious. Firefighters remained on scene until 11:26 a.m., he said.
The Festus and De Soto fire departments and the De Soto Rural and Jefferson R-7 fire districts assisted with the fire. The Joachim Plattin Ambulance District also responded.