Sikeston police discover fire while family of six sleeps

SIKESTON, Mo. — A Sikeston police officer discovered a house fire while on patrol early this morning, just in time to wake a family of six and get them out of the home safely, according to a news release from the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

Police said Sikeston Police Officer Chris Griggs was on patrol near Hardin Street when he saw a vehicle on fire in a carport, which subsequently ignited the house at 322 Hardin St. Griggs called the fire department and knocked on the door, but no one answered. When another officer arrived, they forced open the door to find a family of six asleep inside, and helped to evacuate the family.

Of the family of six, four were children ranging from ages 3 to 10, and two were asleep in a room that had caught fire.

No one was injured.

Police are investigating a recently replaced fuel pump on the car as the source of the fire.