Wednesday fire guts Perry County apartment building

LITHIUM, Mo. - A fire that started in a kitchen destroyed a two-level apartment building Wednesday afternoon.

According to Perryville Fire Chief Charles LaRose, crews arrived at 226 Cross St. around 2:45 p.m.

LaRose said that Missouri fire departments from Biehle, East Perry County Rural, St. Mary, Ozora, Ste. Genevieve and a crew from Chester, Ill., helped contain the fire around 6 p.m. North Cape County Fire crews provided mutual aid for the Perryville Fire Department. LaRose said crews did not leave the scene until 10:30 p.m.

No one was injured in the fire, LaRose said. The fire remains under investigation, though LaRose said he does not believe the incident was suspicious.

The Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross helped some of the residents of the apartment building, according to executive director Cheryl Klueppel.

"It is critical for the Red Cross to provide relief when people in our community are in need after being devastated by a disaster such as a fire," Klueppel said. "We work to ensure that those affected by such a disaster have food, a place to stay, and clothing and medications. Disasters like home fires can be traumatizing."