Fireworks explosion damages home in unincorporated St. Charles County
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| Home owners Chris left and Sean DeGrande with unidentified firefighter after fire destroyed their garage and damaged other portions of their home in the Park Charles South subdivision. Officials said fireworks caused the fire. Roy Sykes photo |
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A mishap with fireworks damaged a home in unincorporated St. Charles County Monday afternoon.
Central County Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Mark Runge said the fire that destroyed the garage of 12 Armitage Drive occurred after a smoldering firework fell into a bag where the other fireworks were stored.
Runge said the father of the family of four that owns the house, Chris DeGrande, was at home with his son and a neighbor child at the time the home ignited.
Everyone got out safely, Runge said.
The call came in at 4:21 p.m., when neighbors saw a large column of smoke rising up from the house.
Five fire trucks were involved in containing the blaze. Cottleville Fire Protection had to be called to help.
The flames were extinguished in about seven minutes, Runge said.
Joyce and Dennis Cattanach, who live a few houses down the block, heard some pops and then ran outside to see dark smoke coming from their neighbors’ garage.
Joyce Cattanach called 911, but someone had already reported the fire, she said.
Cattanach said the DeGrandes are "very nice folks."
Jack Burton, 12, said he was doing yard work with his father when they saw black smoke filling the sky.
Jack balanced on his bike and told a reporter that he and his father followed the banner of smoke to the DeGrande home.
There are two boys in the family, he said, and he was worried about their safety.
"You could feel the heat 200 feet away," Burton said.
The garage of the brick-front ranch home was gutted, as was the charred Caravan station wagon.
A blackened bicycle frame with a warped front wheel stuck up next to a ruined tool chest.
The siding on the house next door was buckling like overstretched taffy.
The couple’s youngest son sat next to a portable hamster cage in the driveway across the street from their smoking house.
From his view, the fire trucks blocked out the destruction.
Runge said the family’s cat was still missing, but because the damage to the rest of the house was less severe, he thought the pet might be found.
The DeGrandes said they did not wish to speak to the press.
Runge said he had to take the opportunity to remind others about the dangers of fireworks.
"We’re not kidding," Runge said.
