At around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, Central County Fire & Rescue was called to a house fire on Westwinds Dr. in the Fourwinds subdivision in St. Peters near Interstate 70.
Neighbors noticed thick black smoke and flames shooting from the home and called 911. Three of these neighbors jumped into action and helped two residents of the home escape the burning house. One of the residents suffered severe burns, and was transported to a hospital. The family’s dog was found safe in the backyard of the home by CCFR firefighters.
“Unfortunately, our response to the home was delayed by a gridlock of nearly 100 vehicles that had slowed down or stopped on the roadways to look at the smoke that could be seen for miles. We are reminding all of our residents, if you see an emergency vehicle, please move to the right as quickly as possibly. It can make a life saving difference,” said CCFR Deputy Chief and Public Information Officer Jason Meinershagen.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. The home and two vehicles were completely destroyed. CCFR was assisted by the O’Fallon Fire Protection District, St. Charles County Police Department, St. Charles County Ambulance District and the Central County Community Assistance Program.
“Situations like these are also an excellent reminder of the importance of working smoke alarms. When working, these simple devices can give you and your family the time you need to safely escape a house fire,” says Meinershagen.
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