Three adults and four children escaped a fire at their home in the 2200 block of Hillsboro Valley Park Road in High Ridge early Tuesday morning (March 30), High Ridge Fire Capt. John Barton said.
He said an adult woman woke up when she heard an “unusual sound,” saw the glow from the fire and started screaming and woke everyone in the house.
Barton said the High Ridge Fire Protection District got a call at 4:17 a.m. about the fire, and when crews arrived on the scene at 4:24 a.m., they could see fire coming from the roof.
He said the smoke from the fire was thick and caused low visibility for firefighters.
“There was a lot of wind, so the smoke was being pushed across the yard,” he said.
Barton said the fire was accidental and started on the back deck outside the house.
He said two men and a woman, two girls, ages 14 and 11, and two boys, 11 and 9, were living in the house.
Barton said a dog also made it out of the fire, and a cat was missing but may have escaped.
He said the residents of the home are staying with family in the area due to heavy damage to the house.
Barton said the fire was under control at 5:13 a.m., and crews were on the scene until 7:20 a.m.
He said the Saline Valley and Fenton fire protection districts helped with the call, and the North Jefferson County Ambulance responded to the scene as well.