Fire reported at Cape Girardeau apartment, one person in custody

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — Authorities reported to a fire early Sunday morning at an apartment in Cape Girardeau that has been determined to be arson. One person was taken into custody.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded at 1:01 a.m. to a reported structure fire at 549 N. Silver Springs Rd., Apartment 105.

When crews arrived, no smoke was visible from the road, but smoke was found inside the unit.

“Fire units arrived first. We didn’t have any smoke visible from the roadway, so we got up to the doorway, then we noticed smoke inside the structure,” said Battalion Chief Brad Dillow.

Crews ventilated the apartment in order to remove smoke.

“There was nobody in the apartment when we arrived,” Dillow said. “No firefighters were injured. We were on scene for approximately one hour and contained the fire within just a few minutes.”

Dillow said the fire’s origin raised suspicions, leading them to contact the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

“It was right in the middle of the room. It was very quickly determined that it was an incendiary fire.”

Cape Girardeau police officers responded, interviewed witnesses, and took one person into custody.

No injuries were reported, but the apartment sustained smoke damage.