An older man and woman escaped their burning home in the 1100 block of Edgewood Drive west of Festus this morning (April 12), Hematite Fire Protection District officials reported.
The fire is considered “suspicious” and is under investigation, said Grant Bissell, a spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Hematite Fire got a call at 8:39 a.m. about the blaze at the home in the Georgetown subdivision, which is off of Victoria Road, Chief Robert Hipes.
“Two people who are elderly were inside,” Hipes said. “The female (who was inside the burning home) was taken to (Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City) due to chest pains brought on by stress.”
He said the fire caused significant damage to the house, particularly to the back portion.
“It probably took about 30 minutes to get it under control,” Hipes said. “When we arrived on the scene, it (the fire) was already in the attic.”
John Chartrand, a Hematite Fire battalion chief and spokesman, said the house will not be habitable until repairs are made.
Chartrand also said he believes the couple’s family will help them with housing.
He said firefighters remained on the scene until around noon.
The Festus and De Soto fire departments and the De Soto Rural and Hillsboro fire protection districts helped with the call, while the Jefferson R-7 Fire Protection District moved up to cover the Hematite station.