An elderly woman and her dog were unaccounted for after a fire destroyed her home on West Lakewood Drive near the Fon-Du-Lac Reservoir in unincorporated Fenton early this morning, May 2, authorities reported.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Grant Bissell said a body was found in the home, but investigators have not identified who it is. He said investigators were still searching for the woman as of 9:10 a.m. today, but he did not have any more information about the woman.
Neighbors told High Ridge Fire that the woman is in her 70s and lives alone at the home, High Ridge Fire Protection District Capt. John Barton said.
“We are not sure yet if she was at home or somewhere else. We have not been able to locate her up to this point,” Barton said about 8:30 a.m.
High Ridge Fire was dispatched to the home at about 3:15 a.m. today when a resident on East Lakewood Drive called 911 after seeing the fire from the other side of the reservoir, the report said.
When firefighters arrived, the home was engulfed in flames. The fire was under control at about 4:50 a.m., and the gas and other utilities were turned off to allow investigators to search the home, Barton said.
“The fire burned through the roof, and the entire interior of the home was destroyed,” he said. “We were able to get in and search some areas of the house, but the amount of damage and debris did hamper some of our search efforts.”
Barton said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but it does not appear to be suspicious.
The Sheriff’s Office and Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the fire.
The Saline Valley, Fenton and Valley Park fire protection districts helped with the call. North Jefferson County Ambulance District also responded to the home.