Ranney Street house fire causes moderate damage

No on was injured in a Sunday blaze on Ranney Avenue in Cape Girardeau that caused moderate smoke and fire damage throughout the home.

Cape Girardeau firefighters responded to a call at 3:28 p.m. about smoke coming from the house at 809 S. Ranney Avenue.

When firefighters arrived at the residence, no one was home. They forced their way in and were met with heavy smoke. Once inside, firefighters extinguished the blaze within 10 minutes.

The fire began in a wicker chair in the living room. There was moderate fire damage to the living room, heavy smoke throughout the first floor, moderate smoke damage to the basement and light water damage to the first floor.

Chris Barnes, who lived in the home, said he had left 15 minutes before receiving a telephone call that firefighters were at his residence.

"We were right around the corner when we got the call and rushed back here," he said. "I don't know what caused it because we didn't have any electricity on in the house."

No one was injured in the blaze, but a pet bird inside the home died from smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is undetermined but under investigation by the Cape Girardeau fire and police departments.