1 dead in Jackson home fire

One person died in a fire that destroyed a Jackson home early Thursday morning.

Jackson fire chief Jason Mouser said calls about the fire at 204 Westvale Drive began coming in about 3:10 a.m. Thursday. The home, a split-level house, was about 80 percent involved with fire when emergency crews arrived minutes later. An SUV in the driveway of the house also was on fire.

Four members of the family who lived in the house made it out safely, Mouser said. One family member did not.

As of late Thursday afternoon, not all the victim's family had been notified of the death, so Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton declined to release identification.

The state fire marshal visited the scene Thursday morning, and Mouser said the department expects to receive word on the official cause of the fire over the weekend. For now, it is thought to be accidental, he said.

Firefighters brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes after their arrival. Wind and extreme cold hindered their efforts, Mouser said.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department assisted, and the Millersville Fire Department stood by in case of other emergencies.

Thursday morning's incident was the second fatal fire in Jackson in less than a month. On Dec. 29, Sandra Riggins died in a fire in her apartment at 320 Shawnee Circle. An autopsy found Riggins' cause of death to be smoke inhalation, and the fire was ruled accidental.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

204 Westvale Drive, Jackson, MO

320 Shawnee Circle, Jackson, MO