Firefighters Knock Down Fire at St. Joseph Home
By: Robert Lowrey, Bridget Blevins
Updated: March 18, 2013
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) A steady rush of water beat down the flames but the damage was already done.
In the middle of the smoke and flames, two neighbors may have saved two lives inside the home on the 2300 block of Bryce Road.
"I smelled the smoke and me and another guy ran toward the home," said Don Mathews. "He pounded on the door to see if anyone was inside and I told him to just break it down."
Inside, the two men found a father, Chad Lancaster, and his four year-old daughter disoriented in the flames.
"The smoke was so heavy," said Mathews. "I saw the girl's feet underneath the smoke. She was running in the direction of the flames."
Both people inside the home were able to escape alive with the help of their neighbors.
Lancaster and his daughter were treated at the scene but were not taken to the hospital.
One of the men who helped the pair went to the hospital to get checked out after saving the man and his daughter.
Fire fighters responded to the fire around 2:00 p.m. Monday afternoon.
When they arrived, the home was completely engulfed in flames.
St. Joseph fire inspector Steve Henrichson said the cause may go as undetermined because fire crews are unable to pinpoint the cause.
Henrichson believes the fire may have started in the garage area.
The home is a total loss and damages are estimated to be around $100,000.
In the middle of the smoke and flames, two neighbors may have saved two lives inside the home on the 2300 block of Bryce Road.
"I smelled the smoke and me and another guy ran toward the home," said Don Mathews. "He pounded on the door to see if anyone was inside and I told him to just break it down."
Inside, the two men found a father, Chad Lancaster, and his four year-old daughter disoriented in the flames.
"The smoke was so heavy," said Mathews. "I saw the girl's feet underneath the smoke. She was running in the direction of the flames."
Both people inside the home were able to escape alive with the help of their neighbors.
Lancaster and his daughter were treated at the scene but were not taken to the hospital.
One of the men who helped the pair went to the hospital to get checked out after saving the man and his daughter.
Fire fighters responded to the fire around 2:00 p.m. Monday afternoon.
When they arrived, the home was completely engulfed in flames.
St. Joseph fire inspector Steve Henrichson said the cause may go as undetermined because fire crews are unable to pinpoint the cause.
Henrichson believes the fire may have started in the garage area.
The home is a total loss and damages are estimated to be around $100,000.
