Fire Destroys Home But No Serious Injuries

A two-story home in the 200 block of Braeshire Drive near Manchester was seriously damaged by a fire Saturday afternoon.

Homeowner Mike Pfister was outside cleaning a backyard walkway around 2:30 p.m. when his brother, who was visiting from Oklahoma with his wife, was heard yelling "Fire!"

Pfister said he looked around and quickly realized the garage was on fire, at which point he began to open the garage door to try to save a parked car.

“And it was just so intense that I kind of got a little burned even trying to do that," Pfister said, pointing to minor burns on his forearm. "I mean it was really going, so I just got the heck out of there.”

House guests Kevin and Linda Pfister got out of the house unharmed. Pfister's dog also was not injured, he said.

Members of the St. Louis County Police, and Des Peres Dept. of Public Safety were dispatched to the fire, with at least 4 firetrucks were on scene as of 2:57 p.m.

"West County firefighters brought the fire under control in about twenty minutes," said Kim Bacon, media coordinator for West County EMS & Fire.

Pfister said the cause of the fire was unknown and being investigated but appeared to start in the garage, which was destroyed.

“I mean I just can’t believe how fast that garage was gone," Pfister said. “It was quick.”

Extensive damage also was done to the top floor of the home, Pfister said, but large portions of the house were preserved.

“The firewall seems to have saved a lot of the main level, and the basement’s in good shape except for any water damage that might seep through.”

Pfister said he does have homeowners insurance, but did yet not have plans on where they would stay overnight.

Kris Evans, 34, has lived on Braeshire for roughly five years just a few houses down from the fire, which was just south of Glandore Drive. He said the activity was hard to miss.

"Just the billow of smoke that came up," initially caught his attention, Evans said. "And of course, all the sirens and firetrucks here."

Editor's Note: This article was lated updated at 4:53 p.m.