Massive house fire damages three homes in Eureka, no injuries reported
A family in Eureka, MO lost most of their belongings in a fire that broke out while they were going to sleep, with their dog alerting them to the danger and one of their cats perishing in the blaze.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Frightening moments overnight for a Eureka family after an intense fire broke out at their home while they were just going to sleep.
The fire occurred around 11:50 p.m. Thursday night on the 600 block of Grandview Ridge Court. When crews arrived on the scene, both the home and the attached garage were already fully involved.
Geoff Biderman, his wife Breanna and their young children, three and five years old, basically lost most everything they owned in the fire. The family was able to escape without any injuries, in part because of the actions of one of their dogs.
Eureka Assistant Fire Chief Scott Berthelmas says that his crew received the call for the fire just before midnight. While on the way to the fire, officials say crews could see the flames from afar. By the time fire crews arrived on the scene, both the home and the attached garage were already fully engulfed in flames.
Crews from four other departments also responded to fight the fire. According to Biderman, he works at Anheuser-Busch and he and his family had just returned from seeing the holiday lights down at the brewery in Soulard.
Bidrman says he and his wife were in their first-floor master bedroom with their kids getting ready to go to sleep when their dog began pacing, alerting them that something was wrong. Geoff and his wife Breanna then smelled smoke and realized what was happening and got everyone out of the home.
"I ran out of the house with my kids and then went back and got the dogs, Biderman said. "Lost my phone, my wallet, my work computer. Literally, the clothes I'm wearing are from my neighbors. The only thing I own is a pair of shorts."
When the family got outside, they saw the garage on fire, and then the flames spread quickly from there. They were able to get both of their dogs out of the house and three of their four cats. One cat did perish in the fire. The fire burned so hot that the homes on both sides of the house that caught fire sustained heat damage.
Barthelmass says a cause is undetermined at this point but the fire does not appear to be suspicious. He says the fire was likely accidental but the fire marshal from the Eureka Fire Protection District will be investigating a cause.
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