House a total loss after fire

Firefighters from the East County Fire Protection District battled a severe house fire Friday morning north of Cape Girardeau.

The fire occurred at 2673 Brandy Lane at around 11 a.m.

Firefighters spent about an hour and a half getting it under control, said Kelly Allen of the East County Fire Protection District.

Someone was at home at the time the fire started, Allen said, but was outside when firefighters arrived and was not injured.

The house was 75 percent engulfed when they arrived, he said, and the building appears to be a total loss.

A nearby lake supplied water for firefighters to use in getting the blaze under control.

The fire is believed to have started in the flue of the house, Allen said.

For a time, firefighters thought the chimney of the structure might collapse, but they were able to prevent it from happening, he said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Salvation Army was also on the scene to assist and provided hot food and water to firefighters, said John Sachen of the Delta Fire Protection District.

The Fruitland and Gordonville fire departments assisted East County.