Dryer fire causes heavy smoke damage at Cape Girardeau apartment building

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — A fire that began near a dryer caused heavy smoke damage Tuesday afternoon at a three-story apartment building in Cape Girardeau.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded around 2:42 p.m. after receiving reports of smoke coming from the building. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the first floor and upgraded the incident to a working fire.

Crews searched the entire building for possible victims but found no one inside. Firefighters brought the fire under control within approximately 10 minutes.

Investigators determined the fire originated near a dryer in a lower-level laundry room. The flames did not spread beyond the laundry room, but heavy smoke damaged the remainder of the building.

Fire departments from Jackson, Gordonville, Scott City, Millersville and East County provided mutual aid. Crews remained at the scene for approximately one hour to conduct overhaul operations and assist with the investigation.

The exact cause of the fire remains undetermined.