Mother, baby uninjured in Cape Girardeau house fire

A Monday morning fire at a Cape Girardeau residence resulted in no injuries to the mother and 2-month-old baby living there.

At 9:21 a.m., the Cape Girardeau Fire Department received a call of a house fire at 1408 N. Main St. A fire was blazing in the corner of one of the building's two apartments, home to Kimberly Teeters and her baby.

The fire wasn't too large and was quickly put out, but not before the apartment suffered extensive smoke and heat damage, said battalion chief Mike Ramsey.

Teeters said she had left her home for a short time to run errands. When she returned, she saw smoke coming out of the apartment and flames in the corner.

Alfred Cook lives in the building's other apartment with Teeters' mother. He was at home on his day off when Teeters knocked on his door, yelling that her home was on fire.

Cook said he rushed into the apartment, filled a bowl with water and began pouring it on the fire. The flames had reached about two feet in height and smoke filled the apartment, he said.

"I can still taste it," Cook said after the fire. "I couldn't see two feet in front of me."

Ramsey said the fire was likely accidental.

Teeters said she believed it was started by a candle left burning near the apartment's outside door.

Don and Shirley Gregory, owners of the building for 10 years, said the converted house is insured and they're glad no one was hurt in the fire.