Though no one was injured, two families totaling 11 people were without a home after flames devoured the second story of the duplex on the corner of Bank and Marion streets.
Bridgeton Fire Chief Dave Schoch said the cause is still under investigation, but it originated in the rear of the second floor on the 120 Bank Street side of the building and is not considered suspicious.
Five fire companies battled to get the blaze under control at 120 and 121 Bank Street after the call went out around 4:50 p.m.
The last of the firefighters didn't leave until just after 8:30 p.m.
Within minutes, the dense smoke whipped by strong winds filled the yards of homes in several blocks and one neighbor had to be evacuated.
"We were concerned that we might have an exposure problem," Schoch said. "It was just a precaution."
Burning embers were falling in the rear of the home and some landed on the grass between the homes.
