Fire destroys home on South Spanish Street

A fire raced through a home on South Spanish Street Tuesday afternoon, gutting the house and leaping to a nearby home.

Cheryl Thomas screamed in anquish when she saw her home engulfed in flames. "Somebody set my house on fire," Thomas sobbed as she watched firefighters attack the blaze. "I don't have nothing."

Witnesses at the scene reported seeing two vehicles leave from in front of the house at 221 S. Spanish St. just before the fire became visible. Cape Girardeau fire chief Steve Ennis said it was too early in the investigation to give a cause for the fire.

The fire at 221 S. Spanish St. ignited the outside wall and roof at 217 S. Spanish St., where Dennis Pengelley was just waking up when he heard the popping of electrical wires.

Pengelley was at his front door, ready to open it when firefighters broke in. The door struck his forehead, leaving a cut about 1 1/2 inches long. Pengelley refused treatment.