A Jennings man has tragically perished in the early hours of New Year's Day following a house fire. Emergency services were called to the 9200 block of Riverwood Drive around 12:50 a.m., upon which arrival they discovered a home with smoke billowing out, as neighbors valiantly attempted to douse the flames using a garden hose. The intensive efforts of the St. Louis County Police Department officers from the City of Jennings Precinct to locate the man within the smoke-engulfed residence failed, only for firefighters to later find him unconscious in the garage. According to 5 On Your Side, the victim was promptly transported to a hospital for treatment, where he was later pronounced dead.
As the community begins to grapple with this calamity, the police have been yet to officially release further details on the man's identity. The fire, which apparently started in the garage before to spread to a bedroom, has spurred a thorough investigation, according to St. Louis Today, with detectives from the St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit being summoned to discern the origins and cause of the blaze.
North County Fire and Rescue Chief Keith Goldstein relayed to 5 On Your Side the situation upon the firefighters' arrival, and the spread of the fire from the garage into the bedroom. The damages from the incident continue to be evaluated as investigations press forward.
Law enforcement is currently reaching out to the public for assistance with any information that could help illuminate the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident. Individuals with knowledge pertaining to the fire are being encouraged to directly contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. Moreover, in a bid to ensure the possibility for anonymity and perhaps even a reward, information can also be provided to CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477), as per the information provided in a statement by First Alert 4.
