Firefighters battle blaze north of Cape; cause not determined

Firefighters responded to a structure fire at a Cape Girar-deau County residence around dinnertime Tuesday.

The blaze began around 5 p.m. in the carport area of the ranch style home at 4295 State Highway 177 north of Cape Girardeau. It took firefighters from the East County Fire Protection District more than an hour to squelch the flames shooting through the roof.

Sharon Noah walked near her home as it burned Tuesday north of Cape Gir-ardeau on Highway 177.

Homeowner Sharon Noah was alone in the house at the time and called the fire department when she smelled the smoke, said Darrin Pruitt, Noah's son.

No one was injured in the fire.

Pruitt said his mother asked him to run back into the house and rescue her dog, a Maltese named Selena.

The air was thick with blinding black smoke, but Pruitt was able to grab the small dog and take her to safety. Relatives and friends of Noah gathered with her on the front lawn to lend support as firefighters worked to put out the blaze.

Noah had lived alone in the house, Pruitt said.

By 5:40 p.m., smaller fires had sprung up on the east end of the roof. The interior of the house suffered massive smoke damage, and about 45 to 50 percent of the house was involved, firefighters said.

Firefighters were able to protect some furniture and items in the basement using a tarp.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.