Cape mom pulls burning mattress from residence

A mother alerted to a burning mattress by her 6-year-old son dragged the flaming bed Thursday evening from a second-story room to her front yard.

Lamecha Abraham recently moved into the home at 1410 Pemiscot St. just north of Capaha Park. She was unpacking boxes in the living room when her son told her the bed was on fire.

"They were supposed to be upstairs asleep," Abraham said. "My son came running downstairs and alerted me."

She lives in the home with the boy and two daughters, 8 and 1, she said.

The fire, which was reported shortly after 9 p.m., was confined to the mattress, Cape Girardeau fire Capt. Brad Dillow said. There was smoke throughout the house and a few embers inside, he said.

The mattress, which was on the front lawn when firefighters arrived, was quickly extinguished, he said.

There were no heaters in use in the house, Abraham said. Firefighters were investigating the cause of the blaze, Dillow said. A full report will be available today.