One taken to hospital after Cape Girardeau fire

The state fire marshal's office will investigate a Cape Girardeau fire that wiped out a West Cape Rock Drive duplex Monday morning.

No injuries were reported, though fire officials said one person went to a hospital in a private vehicle.

Firefighters battled the blaze for 2 1/2 hours after responding to the call at 8:10 a.m., said Dwayne Kirchhoff, chief of the East County Fire Protection District. The cause was undetermined and is still under investigation, he said. The state fire marshal's office is expected to begin its investigation Tuesday, he said.

The fire apparently began in the duplex's south unit, Kirchhoff said. Families were in both of the duplex's units, but both families made it out safely, he said.

Fire departments from Cape Girardeau and Gordonville also responded.

The fire spread quickly. When firefighters got to the scene, the duplex was 25 percent involved and three minutes later it was 50 percent involved, Kirchhoff said.

The duplex is a "total loss," he said.