Cape apartment fire results in one death

A man is dead after a fire in a Cape Girardeau apartment early Friday morning.

Russell Whitworth, 68, of Cape Girardeau likely died of smoke inhalation after a fire began inside his apartment at 1222 Brookshire Road, Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton said.

Cape Girardeau Fire Department chief Rick Ennis said crews were called to the apartment building on the corner of Brookshire and West Cape Rock Drive just before 7 a.m. Friday. Upon arrival, they saw smoke showing from a lower-level apartment.

Firefighters forced the apartment open and encountered a lot of smoke and a small fire. They found Whitworth, who was quickly removed from inside. He pronounced dead at the scene.

Ennis said the fire is not believed to be suspicious, but an evidence technician from the Cape Girardeau Police Department and the state fire marshal are investigating as a matter of protocol.

No one else was injured in the fire, and the smoke and fire were contained to the one apartment, Ennis said.

Pertinent address:

Brookshire Road, Cape Girardeau, MO

Cape Rock Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO